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Didrachm
| Issuer | Rhodes |
|---|---|
| Year | 305 BC - 275 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Facing head of Helios, the sun god and patron deity of Rhodes, turned slightly to the right, rendered in fine Hellenistic relief. The hair radiates outward in thick, flowing locks arranged symmetrically around the face, evoking the god's solar nature. The facial features are modelled with characteristic Early Hellenistic naturalism: large almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and softly parted lips. No legend appears on the obverse; the field is otherwise plain. The die work is of high quality, consistent with the accomplished engraving tradition of the Rhodian mint in the early third century BC. |
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| Reverse lettering | ΡΟΔΙΟΝ ΕΥ |
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| Additional information |
Rhodes struck this series during a period of extraordinary political turbulence — the city had just survived the famous siege of Demetrius Poliorcetes in 305–304 BC, a nearly year-long assault that ended in negotiated withdrawal and left Rhodes free to pursue its commercial dominance of eastern Mediterranean trade. The ransom paid in kind by Demetrius, who left behind his siege equipment, reportedly funded the Colossus.
Ashton's die study of Rhodian coinage from this period identified significant output variation, suggesting the mint responded directly to fluctuating trade demand rather than a fixed production schedule.