Hemidrachm

Polyrhenion was one of Crete's more durable autonomous city-states, situated in the island's western highlands near modern Polyrrinia. It maintained its own coinage well into the period of Roman provincial reorganization, which accounts for the unusually long span this type covers. The city sided with Perseus of Macedon during the Third Macedonian War, a choice that cost other Cretan poleis dearly but left Polyrhenion largely intact — the Romans had more pressing concerns on the island than punishing every minor ally.

The hemidrachm denomination reflects Aeginetan weight standards that persisted in Crete long after mainland Greece had abandoned them.