PONTUS, Heracleopolis (as Sebastopolis). Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Tetrassarion (29mm, 14.43 g, 5h). Labor of Herakles issue. Dated CY 208 (AD 205/6). Good Fine.

Electronic Auction 587
Lot: 461. Estimated: $ 300

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PONTUS, Heracleopolis (as Sebastopolis). Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Tetrassarion (29mm, 14.43 g, 5h). Labor of Herakles issue. Dated CY 208 (AD 205/6). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Hercules and the Cretan Bull: Hercules standing left, head right, wrestling the Cretan Bull; ЄT H C (date) in field. Amandry & Remy 17 (D5/R12); RPC V.3 Online 77772 (this coin cited); RG 6 var. (differing bust type). Red-brown surfaces, light roughness. Good Fine. Very rare, only two known to Amandry & Remy, four in CoinArchives.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 494 (23 June 2021), lot 306; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 409 (8 November 2017), lot 403.

Herakles seventh labor was to capture the Cretan Bull. Minos, the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles subdued the Bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull.

Closing Date and Time: 21 May 2025 at 12:33:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.