Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 5. Estimate CHF22500.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF30000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Herakleia. C. 350-340. Nomos (Silver, 7.54 g). Head of Athena to left, wearing Attic helmet adorned with a figure of Skylla raising her right hand in the gesture of aposkopein; below neck, Α. Rev. |-ΗΡΑΚΛΗΙΩΝ Herakles, nude, standing right and strangling the struggling Nemean lion with both hands; to left, club and bow; above left, Α. AMB 108. Kraay-Hirmer 257 (this coin). HN III 1376. Van Keuren 42. Work 24 . A superb coin with a magnificent portrayal of Herakles and the lion in the finest late classical style. Some very minor traces of corrosion on the obverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.

From the collections of APCW and of A. Moretti, Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998, 108..

This is unquestionably one of the most beautiful coins struck in a century that produced a remarkable number of coins of great beauty. The mannered and serene elegance of the head of Athena and the figure of Herakles is simply stunning.