TROAS, Alexandria Troas. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ As (25.5mm, 6.42 g, 7h). VF.

Electronic Auction 610 – Session 1
Lot: 601.
Closing Date: Jun 3 2026 10:00 ET

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 200

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TROAS, Alexandria Troas. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ As (25.5mm, 6.42 g, 7h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Herakles standing facing, head left, wrestling Antaeus, holding and lifting him at his hip. Bellinger –; RPC VI Online 31042.1 (this coin). Brown patina, slight roughness. VF. Unique, only this coin recorded in RPC with the obverse facing bust. The obverse seen from behind is also known from only one specimen.

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection.

A giant of Libya and the son of Poseidon and Gaia (the earth goddess), Antaeus would challenge travelers to wrestling matches, easily killing his opponents and collecting their bones to construct a temple to his father. It was en route to the Garden of Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor that Hercules met Antaeus. A wrestling match ensued, but Hercules was unable to finish his opponent as Antaeus regained his strength each time the hero threw him to the ground. Realizing Antaeus’ strength waned as the he left the earth (i.e., the protective realm of his mother), Hercules lifted the giant aloft while crushing him to death.

Closing Date and Time: 3 June 2026 at 13:20:00 ET.

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