EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35.5mm, 31.10 g, 12h). Labor of Herakles type. Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). Good VF.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 573. Estimated: $ 4 000

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

Sold For $ 10 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35.5mm, 31.10 g, 12h). Labor of Herakles type. Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). AVT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNINOC ЄVCЄB, laureate head right / Herakles Capturing Kerberos – Herakles advancing left, lion’s skin tied around neck, raising club in right hand, leading Kerberos by lead in left hand; L T ЄT APTOV (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC IV.4 241; Emmett 1558.4 (R5?). Brown and red surfaces, smoothing and scratches, details enhanced, small edge splits. Good VF. Extremely rare, the second known.

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, May 2004.

For his twelfth and final labor, Herakles was sent to the underworld to capture Kerberos. In order to complete this most difficult task, Herakles was initiated in the Eleusinian Mysteries so that he could learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive, as well as absolve himself of his past crime of killing the Centaurs in his fourth Labor. Finding the entrance to the underworld, he again enlisted the assistance of Athena, while Hermes, the conveyor of souls, guided him along. While there, Herakles was able to free Theseus, who had been imprisoned by Hades for attempting to kidnap Persephone, but could not do the same for Theseus’ accomplice, Pirithous. Herakles sought the permission of Hades and Persephone to take Kerberos. The gods assented on condition that Herakles did not harm the creature in any way. Wrestling Kerberos into submission, he brought it to the upper world through an entrance in the Peloponnese. When he returned with Kerberos to the palace, Eurystheus was so afraid of the fearsome beast that he jumped into a large storage jar to hide (a common theme throughout the labors, always depicting King Eurystheus as a coward). With this, Herakles’ punishment was complete, and he was now freed of his guilt.

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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