13.22mm, 2.05g 4th Century BCE
Obverse: Head of Helios facing three-quarter right
Reverse: [ΑΣ]ΤΥ, Amphora, oinochoe to right
BMC 8
Of all the places listed here, Astypalaia is the one I most want to see. Sadly, during a trip to mainland Greece and a few of the islands, I was unable to fit it in. At the very least, it provides an excuse to return.
Astypalaia was named for a mythical Phoenician princess, who was abducted by Poseidon and had two sons by him who became kings of neighboring islands. Supposedly he took the form of a leopard with a tail and wings to accomplish this, though I suspect such an approach wouldn’t work so well with women today.
The island itself is shaped like a horseshoe and the main town has the typical white-washed buildings of the area along with a castle.
Like with most islands of the Dodecanese and Cyclades, coins of Astypalaia are rare.