Fantastic Scene from the Iliad

369, Lot: 431. Estimate $300. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHRYGIA, Ancyra. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (35mm, 16.83 g, 12h). P. Aru. Zoilus, archon for the second time. AVT K M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Є ΠO AV ZOIΛOV APXA TO B / AΓKVPANΩN, Hephaistus seated right on chair, holding hammer and tongs, and Cyclops standing left, holding hammer; between, Minerva standing left, holding shield. J. Nollé, "Athena in der Schmiede des Hephaistos," in JNG XLV (1995), abb. 1 = U. Werz, "Zu einer unbekannten Praegedarstellung," in SM 44, 175/176 (December 1994), 1 = Leu 50, 350 = Winterthur Collection (inv. G6997; same rev. die); American Numismatic Society Collection (inv. 1974.226.101); Heritage 3005, lot 20086 (where it realized a hammer of $3,000; same dies). Near VF, rough green-brown surfaces. The fourth known example, and only the second available to the public. Extremely rare.

Following the loss of equipment by Achilles, Hephaistus is charged with forging a new set of weaponry, which is depicted on the exceptional reverse of this very rare type. Both Hephaistus and a Cyclops are at work under the watch of Minerva in this scene adapted from Homer’s Iliad (Book 18).