LUCANIA, Herakleia. Circa 390-340 BC. AR Nomos (22.5mm, 7.77 g, 5h). VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 27. Estimated: $ 1 500

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 8 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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LUCANIA, Herakleia. Circa 390-340 BC. AR Nomos (22.5mm, 7.77 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone; Δ/Κ/Φ to right / Herakles, nude, standing facing, torso right, wrestling the Nemean Lion to right; club and ΚΑΛ to left; between Herakles' legs, owl standing right, head facing. Work 38 (same dies); Van Keuren 50; HN Italy 1377; SNG ANS 63 (same dies); McClean 824 (same dies); Ward 44 (same dies). Lightly toned. VF. Well centered and struck.

Ex J. Olphin Collection (Triton XIII, 5 January 2010), lot 18; Classical Numismatic Group 36 (5 December 1995), lot 1689; Numismatica Ars Classica 8 (3 April 1995), lot 49.

Herakleia was founded relatively late compared to the other cities in the region. Diodorus gives the founding to 432 BC, by the Tarentines. Under the care of their mother city, the people of Herakleia quickly became wealthy and prosperous. The city became very involved with the affairs of Tarentum, often aiding the mother city in its frequent wars with the Massapians and Lucanians. We know that right around the striking of this coin, Tarentum became engaged in a major war with the Massapians. In fact, the Tarentines sent out for help, inviting the Spartan king Archidamos to their city to fight the Massapians. A few years after Archidamos was killed in battle, the Tarentines invited Alexander, king of Epeiros, to come and fight alongside them as well, and he was finally able to convince the Massapians to make peace.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session One – Lot 1-308 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM 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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