Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Rhodes Caria
ca. 350-300 BCE
Ae 12mm, 1.2gms
Obv: Head of the nymph Rhodos right
Rev: Rose with bud to right, P – O to either side; monogram in left field
BMC 108

Entire books can and have been written about Rhodes. When we were planning our Greek vacation, I deliberately avoided adding Rhodes because I knew an entire vacation could be spent there given the number of things to see.

The island is most famous for the Colossos of Rhodes, of which only parts of the base exist underwater. It towered above the harbor and was built from the melted down siege engines used by Demetrios I Poliorketes in an attempt to take the city.

After Alexander the Great died, the city forged ties with the Ptolemies in Egypt. Demetrios strove to dislodge them from this alliance and created the most feared siege engines the world had seen. However, after a year he was forced to give up in 304 BCE.

The coinage of Rhodes was widespread with numerous types in silver and bronze. Eventually I hope to add other types. For now, I’m happy with this bronze that features a rose, which was the symbol of the island.

One interesting aspect I find about Rhodes was that it mainly had one mint, compared to other islands of its size which were divided into multiple cities. While I’m sure there were other towns on Rhodes, it was always dominated by the capital.

377 BCE

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

357 BCE-
355 BCE

Chios, Rhodes, Kos, and Byzantion revolt against Athens in the Social War. Myrina and Hephaistia on Lemnos and Imbros (Athenian allies) are ravaged and Samos is besieged. After bungling by the Athenian general Chares, Persia demands Athens leave and Athens, running out of money, complies.

330 BCE-
326 BCE

A food crisis erupts in the Greek world that was likely caused by Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the East, which disrupted traditional trade routes. Kyrene sends grain to many cities including Athens, Sparta, Rhodes, Thebes, Argos, and Atrax.

220 BCE-
216 BCE

The Lyttian War is fought between an alliance led by Knossos and one led by Polyrhenion. On the side of Knossos were Rhodes, the Aetolian League, and Kydonia. On the side of Polyrhenion were Lyttos, Macedon, and the Achaian League.

220 BCE

Eleutherna triggers the Lyttian War by accusing Rhodes of murdering their leader Timarchos.

201 BCE

Philip V of Macedon winters his fleet at Bargylia while blockaded by the fleets of Pergamon and Rhodes.

200 BCE-
197 BCE

During the Second Macedonian War between Rome and Philip V of Macedon, Aegira, the Aetolian League, Corinth, Sikyon, Patrai, Athens, Pergamon, and Rhodes support Rome.

200 BCE

Andros captured by a fleet of Rome, Pergamon, and Rhodes. It becomes part of the Attalid Kingdom.

140 CE

A major earthquake destroys Rhodes. Funds for is rebuilding are given by Antoninus Pius.