Nomos 20

ISLANDS OFF CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 88/42 BC-AD 14. Lot of two silver drachms struck from the same obverse die, in the names of the magistrates Mikeion and Charmios (19 mm, 4.18 g, 12; 20 mm, 4.18 g, 7). Radiate head of Helios facing, turned slightly to the right. Rev. Ρ - MIKΕIΩN (Sic!)- Ο and Ρ - Ο - XAPMEIOΣ Rose seen from above; to left, winged kerykeion. Mikeion: cf. Ashton & Weiss 295 (this magistrate – name misread – but with obverse die A99 – used for Charmios and Euphranor – paired with an unrecorded reverse die); Charmios: cf. Ashton & Weiss 296 (A99/ - but reverse die unrecorded). A fascinating, interesting and unpublished pair of drachms, both struck from the same obverse die. Attractive and lustrous. Good extremely fine.

From the state of the obverse die it seems likely that the coins of Charmios were struck before those of Mikeion. It is worth noting that the various obverse die links (see the preceeding lot) make it clear that the two spellings, Meikion and Mikeion, refer to the same magistrate!