THRACE, Abdera. Circa 395-360 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 12.96 g, 6h). Philados, magistrate. Near EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 119. Estimated: $ 75 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 140 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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THRACE, Abdera. Circa 395-360 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 12.96 g, 6h). Philados, magistrate. Griffin seated left; cicada to left, ABΔH to right / Herakles seated half-left, his head turned to half-right, on lion skin draped over rock, his right hand holding club set vertically on his knee, his left arm resting on his left thigh; EΠI ΦIΛA-ΔO(Σ retrograde) at sides; all within shallow incuse square. May, Abdera 396 (A277/P322); AMNG II 105.4 = Ars Classica XIII, lot 620 (same dies); SNG Lockett 1132 = Weber 2379 (same obv. die). Beautiful iridescent cabinet tone. Near EF. A magnificent example, possibly the finest known of the type.

From the Father & Son Collection. Ex Collection of a Cosmopolitan (Künker 351, 25 September 2021), lot 100 (hammer €120,000); Hess-Divo 335 (6 December 2018), lot 20 and front cover; Giessener Münzhandlung 44 (3 April 1989), lot 152.

The superbly rendered “weary Herakles” depicted on the reverse of this stunning stater is part of a well-known sculptural motif in the ancient world that includes the famous “Farnese Hercules” now in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Rome. Unlike the standing Farnese version, the die engraver of this piece depicts a seated Herakles with his heavily bearded face turned to right wearing a melancholy expression. The skin of the Nemean Lion covers the rock upon which he sits. He is surely mourning the death of his young companion Abderos, who perished while helping the hero complete his eighth labor, subduing the savage mares of Diomedes, king of the Thracian Bistones. Having captured the beasts, Herakles left them in the care of Abderos, but while he was away the youth was devoured by the mares. In a fit of rage, Herakles fed Diomedes to his own horses, and then founded a city on the site of Abderos’ tomb: Abdera.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session One – Lot 1-337 will be held Tuesday morning, 9 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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