EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 23.74 g, 12h). Labor of Herakles type. Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). Good VF.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 569. Estimated: $ 5 000

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 5 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 23.74 g, 12h). Labor of Herakles type. Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). AVT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNINOC ЄVCЄB, laureate head right / Herakles and the Lernaean Hydra – Herakles standing left, lion’s skin over left shoulder, holding club overhead in right hand, his left hand grasping the right arm-tentacle of the anthropomorphized Lernaean Hydra; L TЄTA PTOV (date) around. Köln 1347; Dattari (Savio) 8487; K&G 35.89; RPC IV.4 248.6 (this coin); Emmett 1545.4 (R5); Carl W.A. Carlson, “Rarities 4 – The Labors of Hercules Series” in SAN Journal IV.4 (1972/3), p. 65, D.2597V (this coin illustrated). Green patina with red, some edge damage. Good VF. Very rare.

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex James E. Cain Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 527; David Simpson Collection (Triton V, 15 January 2002), lot 1775; Johns Hopkins University Collection [inv. 83.126] (Part I, Numismatic Fine Arts & Bank Leu, 16 May 1984), lot 801, acquired from Alex G. Malloy.

For his second labor, Herakles had to kill the Lernaean Hydra, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, and the sibling of the Nemean Lion, the Chimaera, and Kerberos. Inhabiting the swamp near Lake Lerna in the Argolid, the creature possessed numerous mortal and one immortal head on its single body; should one head be removed, two more would grow in its place. When Herakles reached the swamp where the Hydra dwelt, he drew it out of its lair near the spring of Amymone. Thereupon, wielding a harvesting sickle, he attempted to decapitate the creature. When this proved unsuccessful, because of the Hydra’s regenerative ability, Herakles enlisted the assistance of his nephew Iolaos, who devised a plan: once Herakles had cut off one of the creature’s heads, Iolaos would cauterize the stump with a burning firebrand. The plan succeeded, and the Hydra was destroyed. Herakles placed its one immortal head under a large rock on the sacred way between Lerna and Elaius and dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood.

On this rare Alexandrian type, Hydra is anthropomorphized as a giantess, which as been interpreted in the past as “the giantess Echidna raising her son Hydra against Herakles in defense.” It is a mystery as to why the engravers at the Alexandrian mint chose this unusual interpretation for the Lernaean Hydra, especially when other provincial mints that struck coins for the various labors used the more traditional representation.

The final winners of all Triton XXIX lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 January 2026.

Triton XXIX – Session Two – Lot 302-613 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 13 January 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM 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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