Lot 1819

Description

Carian Islands, Rhodes, (304-167 B.C.), silver didrachm, (6.61 grams), obv. radiate head of Helios three-quarter face to right with hair loose, rev. rose, with bud on right, P O below, to left Athena to left with right hand raised holding an aplustre, above **MNASIMACOU*, all within dotted border, (S.5048, BMC 145-6 [p.244], SNG Cop.765, SNG Finland 537-9 [similar dies]). Dark tone, nearly extremely fine, rare.

SNG Finland reports a variant with M O instead of P O on the reverse, this example appears to be P altered from an M or a reading of PY O. Certainly an interesting variant. The literature also describes the figure on the reverse as Athena but appears to be a standing female goddess. This personification is very much like the other examples illustrated in the SNG's noted above.