Rare Cretan War Issue

219, Lot: 292. Estimate $150. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 205-200(?) BC. AR Didrachm (20mm, 4.44 g, 12h). Cretan War issue. Military mint on Crete. Gorgos, magistrate. Winged head of Medusa facing slightly right; c/m: bust of Nike right within incuse circle / Rose with bud to right; star to left. Ashton 333 (same dies as illustration); Ashton, Crete 1 (same dies as illustration); SNG Keckman -; SNG Copenhagen 864 (same dies). Countermark VF, host coin near VF, toned. Rare.

From the Jörg Müller Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 45 (18 March 1998), lot 457.

Ashton argues that this issue was likely struck by Rhodian commanders during the Cretan war (see Ashton, Clubs, pp. 77-78).