The reverse of all early Holmoi coins, which are classified in this catalogue as Group 1, show ship’s sterns. The nearest mint that depicted ship’s sterns on the reverse of its coins is Phaselis in Lycia. It is likely that the Phaselis coins were the inspiration for the reverses of these Holmoi coins, just as their obverse is inspired by the Kelenderis coins (dismounted rider or forepart of Pegasus). Later Holmoi issues (Group 2), however, abandoned this ship motif and show Apollo on the reverse or, more rarely, the bearded head of another deity (Type 2.3), which may represent Poseidon, but Zeus or Kronos cannot be ruled out.

The stern of the ship on Type 1.1 coins, which represent the earliest Holmoi issues, has a long aphlaston, a railing at the end of the stern, a prominent keel, and four vertical elements on the ship’s side (Figure 1). The first arched element at the left extremity probably represents a hull reinforcement. Another example of such a construction is on the Phaselis stater in Figure 2. However, the other three vertical elements are unusual. They are not arched, but rather S-shaped, as they apparently copy the curved side of the ship from the gunwale to the keel. Therefore, it is not a depiction of oars. Nor can it be a strengthening of the hull with externally placed wooden ribs, because such a construction would significantly impair the hydrodynamic properties of the ship. They may perhaps be strong ropes that protected the sides of the ship in shallow coastal waters or in the harbor, but they could also be some decorative elements.

A Late Minoan seal from Makrygialos on the southeast coast of Crete (CMS V Suppl. 1A, Cat. No. 055; Wedde 2000, Cat. No. 907) depicts a ship with similar vertical strokes on its side, see Figure 3. It is a cult ship with a priestess raising her right hand in the typical Minoan adoration gesture on the right, a sacred palm tree in the middle, and an ikrion (a cabine or shrine) on the left.1 According to Wedde 2000, pp. 38 and 339, the oblique line at the left extremity suggests a steering-oar, while the remaining fourteen short strokes depict ribs. However, the ribs placed outside the hull of the ship do not make sense for hydrodynamic reasons, as noted above. Perhaps these are the same protective or decorative features as on the Holmoi coins.

Figure 1. Holmoi. Stater, Type 1.1a.	Figure 2. Lycia, Phaselis. Stater, c. 250–221/0 BC.

Figure 3. Seal from Makrygialos (Crete), Late Minoan IB period (1675–1460 BC). Drawing and photograph of the seal impression. Images courtesy of the CMS Heidelberg.

Type 1.2 staters probably depict a trireme (trieres in ancient Greek), i.e. a ship with three banks of oarsmen (Figure 4).2 The top two rows of oar-ports are clearly shown, the bottom row is indicated by a row of dots (the oar-ports used to be largest in the top row, smaller in the middle row and smallest in the bottom row). A similar but more elaborate depiction of a trireme appears on the Phaselis stater in Figure 5.

Figure 4. Holmoi. Stater, Type 1.2.	Figure 5. Lycia, Phaselis. Stater, c. 500–440 BC.

An interesting feature of the third staters of Type 1.3 (Figure 6) is a shield, which probably depicted some protective symbol or deity. In addition, a dolphin is depicted below the ship. The size of this shield relative to the size of the ship is remarkable, as is its relatively low position. However, smaller shields placed on the aphlaston are depicted on many coins up to the Roman period, see Figures 7–11. The stern of a ship with a shield on the aphlaston is also depicted in the background of a marble relief depicting Paris and Oinone in the Palazzo Spada in Rome, which was inspired by Hellenistic art and dates from the 2nd century AD.3 Note that such a shield could also have had a purely decorative or propaganda function, as shown by the Macedonian shield on the Histaia tetrobol in Figure 9.

Figure 6. Holmoi. Third Stater, Type 1.3.	Figure 7. Lycia, Phaselis. Stater, 4th century BC.

Figure 8. Euboia, Histiaia. Tetrobol, 3rd–2nd centuries BC.	Figure 9. Euboia, Histiaia. Tetrobol, 3rd–2nd centuries BC.

Figure 10. The Roman Republic, C. Fonteius, Rome. Denarius, 114–113 BC.	Figure 11. The Roman Republic, Marcus Antonius, mint moving with M. Antonius. Denarius, 32–31 BC.

The obol of Type 1.4 (Figure 12) depicts the stern of a smaller ship, probably with two rows of oar-ports, but it is also possible that the coin depicts only one row of oar-ports. Similar depictions of smaller ships can also be found on Phaselis third staters and obols, see Figures 13–15.

Figure 12. Holmoi. Obol, Type 1.4.	Figure 13. Lycia, Phaselis. Third Stater, c. 500–440 BC.

Figure 14. Lycia, Phaselis. Third Stater, c. 500–440 BC.	Figure 15. Lycia, Phaselis. Obol, c. 500–440 BC.

Credits:
Figure 1:	Nomos AG, Auction 19 (17 November 2019), Lot 175 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 2:	Nomos AG, Auction 25 (20 November 2022), Lot 230 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 3:	Images courtesy of the CMS Heidelberg (Heidelberg University, Center for Ancient Studies).
Figure 4:	P. Veselý.
Figure 5:	Heritage Auctions, Inc., Auction 231937 (12 September 2019), Lot 62102 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 6:	Numismatik Naumann, Auction 39 (3 January 2016), Lot 415 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 7:	Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 368 (10 February 2016), Lot 96 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 8:	Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 232 (28 April 2010), Lot 88 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 9:	Nomos AG, Auction 20 (10 July 2020), Lot 143 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 10:	Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 97 (12 December 2016), Lot 9 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 11:	CGB Numismatics Paris, MONNAIES 45 (14 October 2010), Lot 260 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 12:	P. Veselý.
Figure 13:	Roma Numismatics Limited, E-Sale 21 (31 October 2015), Lot 364 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 14:	Numisart GmbH, Auction 5 (16 June 2024), Lot 84 (acsearch.info URL).
Figure 15:	DEMOS Auctions, Auction 1 (17 April 2021), Lot 94 (acsearch.info URL).