Islands off Caria, Rhodes. Silver Tetradrachm (14.98 g), ca. 404-385 BC. Head of Helios facing slightly right. Reverse: POΔION, Rose in profile, bud to left; to left, Φ; to right, kylix; all within incuse square. Ashton 44; Hecatomnus 110-3; Bérend -; SNG Keckman -; HGC 6, 1418. NGC grade ChAU*; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Fine style. Estimated Value $15,000 - UP
Whereas in later periods Rhodes primarily struck smaller denominations like drachms and didrachms, the present coin is a wonderful early tetradrachm struck to the heavy Chian standard, rather than the reduced Rhodian standard introduced in the later fourth century BC. It was struck, probably in support of naval operations undertaken during Corinthian War (395-387 BC), which pitted a coalition of Greek cities against Sparta and frequently involved Persian satraps playing each side against the other. Shortly before the conflict, the Rhodians had been instrumental in stirring up the cities of mainland Greece against Spartan hegemony by distributing money sent by Pharnabazos, the Persian satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia. In 396 BC, Rhodes served as a naval base for Pharnabazos and the Athenian general Conon against the Spartans and faced direct Spartan attack in 392 BC. However, the Spartans were forced to abandon the Rhodian campaign in 389 BC. The conflict was finally brought to an end under the terms of the King's Peace (387 BC), which forced Athens and Sparta to recognize Rhodes as an autonomous city under Persian sovereignty.

The present tetradrachm firmly establishes the types that would become emblematic of Rhodes for the remainder of its history. The obverse type depicts the Greek sun-god Helios, the patron deity of Rhodes. This god was later depicted in monumental form at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes when the famous Colossus of Rhodes was constructed in 292-280 BC. The use of the three-quarter facing head here shows that in the early fourth century, Rhodes was attuned to artistic trends in the wider Greek world. At the same time that Rhodian Helios was being depicted three-quarter facing, so too was Arethusa on coins of Syracuse and Larissa on coins of her eponymous Thessalian city. The reverse type depicts a rose (rhodos in Greek) as a punning badge of the city's name.

*This coin contains the COIN WORLD PLUS sticker.
Purchased privately from Edward J. Waddell, 30 April 2012; G. Hirsch 275 (22 September 2011), 3902; Sternberg XIX 19 November 1987), 202.