Greek, A Greek silver didrachm of Rhodes, set in an 18ct gold pendant with diamonds, Hellenistic, circa 229 - 205 BC

The obverse depicts the god Helios in a three-quarters facing view, wearing a radiate crown. The reverse shows a blossoming rose. Above this POΔION is inscribed, with a prow of a galley depicted to the left of the rose bud. AMEINI-AX/Ameinias, the name of the magistrate who minted the coin is inscribed below.

Provenance

Roma numismatics auction, London, 31 March 2012, lot 304

Literature

Rhodes was a major commercial and cultural centre within the ancient Greek world, and was famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This colossal statue depicted the sun god Helios and was erected in the 3rd century BC. The Colossus was destroyed only fifty years later by a devastating earthquake in 226 BC, at around the time this coin was minted. This coin offers a fine contemporary representation of one of antiquity's greatest lost masterpieces.

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MIKROS - Artworks under £10,000

Provenance

Literature