Sale: CNG 78, Lot: 851. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008.  Sold For $355. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 205-190 BC. AR Drachm (2.69 g, 12h). Gorgos, magistrate. Head of Helios facing / Rose with bud to right; ΓOPΓOY above, bow-in-bow case to left. Cf. Ashton 288; cf. SNG Keckman 582-4; cf. SNG Copenhagen 783. Superb EF. Unpublished, possibly unique.

From Collection C.P.A. Ex Rauch 77 (10 April 2006), lot 242.

The issue of the magistrate Gorgos with the bow-in-bow case symbol (Ashton 288), is among the most common for this period. The present coin, however, is significantly different in two respects. First, the obverse has the head of Helios facing directly forward, rather than being turned slightly to the right. Also, the magistrate’s name is inscribed in the genitive form, rather than the usual nominative. These variances from the norm suggest this coin may be part of one of the many “pseudo-Rhodian” issues from Greece or elsewhere.