A HIGHLY STYLED SILVER DRACHM
FROM THE GREEK ISLAND OF RHODES

Obverse: Head of Helios three quarter face towards the right; hair loose.
Reverse: Shallow incuse square containing P – O; rose with bud on right; magistrate's name (AMEINIAS) above.

The reference used for this coin are the British Museum Catalogues on Greek Coins, volume 18, page 245, a variety of number 162.

The large and important island of Rhodes, off the southwest coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), produced a considerable coinage in the archaic period from its three major cities, Ialysos, Kamiros and Lindos. After the Persian wars no further coinage was issued on the island until the foundation of the new federal capital circa B. C. 408. This splendid city, situated on the northern promontory only 12 miles from the mainland, was given the same name as the island. It quickly achieved great prosperity and eventually became one of the principal trading centers of the ancient world. In the third century Rhodes exercised much political influence in the eastern Mediterranean through the strength of its fleet.

In B. C. 167, the Romans declared Delos a free port, and the Rhodians, their prosperity now greatly diminished, sank into comparative obscurity.