Hephaistus Forging the Helmet of Achilles

447, Lot: 209. Estimate $500. Sold for $1900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Silandus. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Medallion (36mm, 29.18 g, 12h). Tatianos, archiereus and first archon. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hephaistus forging the helmet of Achilles: Hephaistus seated right on cippus, holding hammer; to right, Athena standing facing, head left, holding grounded shield and vertical spear with her left hand, and holding helmet with her right hand, which is placed on a short column between her and Hephaistus. RPC IV Online 9954; Mionnet Supp. VII, 541. Dark brown patina, light roughness. Good Fine. Extremely rare, the authors of RPC cite only one specimen in Berlin.

From the Rye Collection. Ex Coin Galleries (13 November 1991), lot 537.