Rhodes. Circa 229–205 BC. AR Didrachm (19 mm, 6.82 g, 12h), Ameinias

Rhodes. Circa 229–205 BC. AR Didrachm (19 mm, 6.82 g, 12h), Ameinias, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right. Rev. POΔIΩN / AMEINI-AΣ, rose with bud to right; to left, stern of galley. Ashton 217; HGC 6, 1440; SNG Copenhagen 759; SNG Keckman 543. A beautifully engraved issue of Rhodes, struck under the magistrate Ameinias. The obverse portrays the radiant head of Helios, patron god of the island, his gaze dynamic and lifelike, symbolizing both divine favor and Rhodian maritime supremacy. On the reverse, the city’s emblematic rose appears in full bloom, flanked by a bud and a galley stern, referencing Rhodes’ naval power and commercial reach across the eastern Mediterranean. This coin reflects the city’s prosperity and independence during the Hellenistic period, when Rhodes was renowned for its naval strength, flourishing trade, and its role as a cultural and artistic hub. The combination of Helios and the rose became an enduring civic identity, appearing on Rhodian coinage for centuries. Nicely centered with attractive silver tone and clear detail.