PHRYGIA, Temenothyrae. temp. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ Medallion (44mm, 50.26 g, 6h). Gaius Arruntius Nikomachos Tiberianianus, high priest and first archon for the second time. VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 133. Estimated: $ 1 500

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 4 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHRYGIA, Temenothyrae. temp. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ Medallion (44mm, 50.26 g, 6h). Gaius Arruntius Nikomachos Tiberianianus, high priest and first archon for the second time. Draped bust of the Senate left / Herakles advancing left, holding torch and club with lion’s skin; to left, column surmounted by deity holding scepter; to lower left, Eros standing right, pulling at robe attached to Herakles’ leg. RPC VIII Online 20262 (this coin cited); BMC 12. Green patina with earthen highlights, slight porosity. VF.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik Web Auction 32 (7 December 2024), lot 1141; Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 28 (9 December 2023), lot 2320.

The reverse of this coin, depicting Herakles holding a torch with Eros tugging at his robes, certainly depicts a wedding scene, likely Herakles’ marriage to Omphale. Omphale, the queen of Lydia, bought Herakles as a slave for the sum of three silver talents. Herakles was indentured to her for three years; during this time, he completed tasks similar to the 12 Labors demanded by Eurystheus. They included: capturing the Kerkopes; slaying the vine-grower Syleus; defeating the Lityerses; enslaving the Itoni; killing the serpent Ophiuchos; and burying Ikaros after he had fallen from the sun. Additionally, he and Omphale switched clothes and he was forced to perform women’s tasks while in her service as a form of humiliation. Upon completion of his three years of service, the two wed in a lavish ceremony in the grove of Dionysos.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:44:00 ET.



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