Greek Coins
Rhodes, Lindus
Stater circa 460, AR 13.28 g. Lion’s head r., with open jaws and tongue protruding. Rev. LI – “IDI – ON Dolphin swimming r.; beneath, pellet. Traitè I, 781 (these dies). Jameson 2312 (this coin). H.A. Cahn, Festschrift Langloz, 22, H2 (this coin). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 188, 641.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only three specimens known. A very
intriguing issue, lovely old cabinet tone and good very fine Ex M&M-Leu 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 12 and Leu 42, 1987, 307 sales. From the Jameson and Gillet collections.

Of the three early and important Dorian settlements on Rhodes – Lindus, Camirus and Ialysus – it may be said that Lindus was the most successful. This no doubt was due to its fortunate location: it was the only major city on the east coast of the island. It thus became a maritime hub along the trade route from Greece to Asia and developed close relations with Cyprus, the Levant and Egypt. The fact that it possessed two fine harbors allowed it to become master of the southern half of Rhodes.

In addition to its regional importance, Lindus also was responsible for the foundation of the colonies Phaeselis in Lycia and Gela in Sicily. Arguably its most famous son was Chares, the renowned sculptor of the Colossus of Rhodes. During its long history, Lindus had well-established cults devoted to Dionysus, Zeus, Athena and Heracles, which continued to flourish even after the fortunes of the island tended to flow to the northern tip, where the city of Rhodes was established in 408/7 B.C. as a joint effort of Lindus, Camirus and Ialysus.

The early staters of Lindus bear the head of a roaring lion that seemingly was derived from the issues of Cnidus, a coastal settlement on the Carian mainland. The usual reverse type on early staters of Lindus was a matrix of two incuse rectangles, typically scored with irregular lines and divided by a raised, broad band. On rare occasions the separating band is inscribed with the city’s ethnic. On this exceptionally rare piece the reverse has a fully-realized design element – a dolphin – surrounded by the ethnic. This type is reminiscent of the Archaic Carian staters that depict two dolphins, one over the other, which traditionally, and perhaps in error, have been attributed to Carpathus.