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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Pavlos, post: 3444005, member: 96635&quot;]During the Cretan war of 205 to 200 BC, Rhodian commanders struck and issued Rhodian-type coins on Crete. Later on in ca. 200-185 BC, local Cretan emission struck in imitation of Rhodian coinage. Rhodian coinage was therefore an entrusted currency on Crete in the beginning of the 2nd century BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>Two decades later in Macedon, 179 BC, the ambitious Perseus, son of king Philip V of Macedon stirred anti-Roman feelings around Macedonia. Tensions escalated and Rome declared war on Macedon. This war is referred to as the Third Macedonian war and the first battle happened at 171 BC near a hill called Callinicus, close to the Roman camp at Tripolis Larisaia, five kilometres north of Larissa (the capital of Thessaly). </p><p><br /></p><p>In both the Macedonian and Roman army there were always a considerable amount of allied and mercenary infantry and auxiliary troops. One of those mercenary troops were Cretan archers, they are well known for their outstanding archery skills and were valued in any army. These Cretan mercenaries had to be paid, however they wanted a currency that they trusted and were familiar with. The previous mentioned Rhodian coinage circulating on Crete, where familiar and trusted currency for the Cretans and it is likely that they would have required payment in that form. Therefore Rhodian-type coins were struck by Perseus to pay Cretan mercenaries serving in his army.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/XDMjIqX.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>Kings of Macedon. temp. Perseus. 179-168 BC. AR Drachm. Third Macedonian War issue. Magistrate Hermias, Uncertain mint in Thessaly (Struck circa 171/0 B.C).</b></p><p><b>Obverse: </b>Head of Helios facing slightly right.</p><p><b>Reverse: </b>Rose with bud to right; EPMIAΣ above, Z-Ω flanking stem.</p><p>Reference: Price, Larissa, pl. LV, 247; SNG Keckman 795.</p><p>2.67g; 17mm.</p><p><br /></p><p>Lately I have seen a lot of these issues on the market, some quite pricy, but this coin definitely has a very attractive iridescent tone that I could not resist.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please also post your coins of the Third Macedonian War, coins of Perseus and other Rhodian imitations![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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