Large Greek coin to ID

[Marsha]

Athena & Prow

28mm and 17 grams

Lettering above prow (guessing) ASITTI
below prow XE

Cannot seem to find this combination

Thanks

Marsha

[shanxi]

A ISEGRIM search brings the following result:

CARIA INS, Rhodes / rhodus. 304-166 BC. AE. Obverse: HEAD WOMAN R / ATHENA (HELMET). Reverse: SWSITIMOS C'; PROW R (RAM). LET C'.
   1. 30mm GEROJANNIS JIAN 1905 page 181 #2

The size fits and the legend SWSITIMOS sounds somehow similar to ASITTI what you have read.

Maybe you can dig out this 1905 publication somewhere to check if this is a possibilty.

[Marsha]

Shanxi - Thanks for your assistance

Seems like this is a very close match.

I will do some additional research to dig further into this possibility.

Must be a rare one.   

Marsha

[Altamura]

The article by G. Gerojannis in JIAN can be seen here, the coin is depicted: https://archive.org/stream/journalinternati89sboruoft#page/n193/mode/2up
In my eyes the legend on your coin could be ΣΟΣΙΤΙΜΟΣ as well, perhaps you could have a closer look on that.

Gerojannis refers to a coin in Friedrich Imhoof-Blumer, Monnaies Grecques, page 212, number 5: https://archive.org/stream/monnaiesgrecque00blugoog#page/n231/mode/2up
The coin is attributed to Chersonesos on Crete. On the left side of the prow there is a rose which leads Gerojannis to attribute it to Rhodes.

A specimen of this type, also with a rose on the reverse, is in the collection of the BnF: http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8570667g.r=chersonese?rk=171674;4

This seems to be a very rare type with a not so clear attribution to Rhodes.

Regards

Altamura

[Marsha]

Altamura - Thank you so much for the comprehensive information on this coin.   I am really excited to have this rare coin type in my possession.

Marsha

[djmacdo]

Not only rare, but of such excellent style!