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CARIA, Uncertain. Circa 205-190 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.65 g, 12h). Pseudo-Rhodian issue(?) in the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Timaios, magistrate. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, TIMAIO[Σ] above rose. Ashton, Bronze, p. 12, n. 22; Kleiner, Rhodes, Series VIII, dies R/54; Price 2526; Mektipini 482–6 (same dies). Lightly toned, a few marks. VF. Extremely rare pseudo-Rhodian Alexander, Kleiner records only six examples (inlcuding the two in Pella [also the only two in the ANS photofile], and four in Mektipini); none in CoinArchives.
In a footnote to his article in the 1986 Numismatic Chronicle, Richard Ashton argued that this issue with the name of Timaios was probably not Rhodian, as it lacked the ethnic, PO, below the throne, and the name did not occur on contemporary civic issues of Rhodian type. Two other issues of Alexanders likewise lack an ethnic (though Price and Ashton both missed one--Weber 2111, an example of Price 2520), but are obverse die linked to issues with the ethnic, and also have magistrates that occur on contemporary civic Rhodian tetradrachms, didrachms, and drachms. That said, the absence of the ethnic on two other issues shows that there were official issues of this variety. It is therefore possible that the Timaios issue is likewise Rhodian, and that an example with the ethnic was struck, but none have survived to today. Ashton did note that the style of the Timaios issue “belongs to Caria,” and a comparison with other dies in the series show remarkable similarity. Also, the only hoard to contain the issue of Timaios, Mektipini, also contained many other issues of Rhodian Alexanders. One must keep in mind, however, that this issue was struck during a time that saw numerous pseudo-Rhodian issues of civic Rhodian type, and the arguments for their attribution to non-Rhodian mints could likewise apply to the Timaios Alexanders. In sum, the lack of the name of Timaios on the official civic Rhodian coinage is the most convincing element we presently have for attributing this issue, tipping the balance toward Ashton’s identification of it as pseudo-Rhodian, pending any future discoveries.
Closing Date and Time: 18 May 2022 at 11:33:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.
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