CNG 94, Lot: 653. Estimate $10000. Sold for $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 404-385 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 14.98 g, 12h). Chian standard. Head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose in profile, bud to left; POΔI[ON] above; to left, Φ above star; all within incuse square. Hecatomnus 78 (A52/P63) = NAC 29, lot 210 = Bérend, Tétradrachmes 58 (same dies [but obv. die before re-engraving]); Leu 15, lot 311 = Bérend, Tétradrachmes 59 (same obv. die [after re-engraving]); Ashton 39; SNG Keckman –; Karl –; SNG von Aulock –. Near EF, toned, light porosity. Beautiful style.

In his die study of the early Rhodian tetradrachms in Hecatomnus, R. Ashton notes that the hair above the left forehead of Helios was recut on obverse die A52 (Hecatomnus p. 143, n. 72). The recut die is known to have been struck paired with reverse dies 64 and 65, but this coin is the first instance of it having been used with reverse die 63.