Nomos 23

ISLANDS OFF CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 125-88 BC. 1/3 Stater (Gold, 13.5 mm, 2.86 g, 12 h), struck under the magistrate Peritas. Radiate facing head of Helios, slightly turned to right. Rev. ΠΕΡΙΤΑ / Ρ - Ο Rose with bud to left; in lower field to right, coiled serpent; all within shallow incuse square. HGC 6, 1415. Jenkins, Rhodian 239. Very rare. Well-centered and clear. Some flatness and minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

From a European collection, ex Rauch 107, 12 November 2018, 155, and from the collection of Russell Burrage in Boston, Morgenthau 338, 10 October 1934, 229, from the Enrico Caruso Collection, Canessa 15 June 1923, 78 ex Hirsch XXXI, 6 May 1912, 475.

Why was this coin issued? Who was Peritas? Well, the name Peritas, or Pereitas, was most famous when it was used for Alexander the Great’s favourite hunting dog! It is found as a magistrate’s name (Flavius Pereitas) on Severan coins from nearby Aphrodisias, and seems to have been of Macedonian origin. Why this coin was issued is more problematic: there were enough emergencies occurring during this period and it was doubtless struck to pay military forces during the upheavals caused by Mithridates VI of Pontus.