Lot 3329

Description

Italy, Lucania, Herakleia, (281-278 B.C.), silver nomos, stater or didrachm, (7.32 g), obv. head of Athena facing three-quarters to right wearing Attic helmet decorated with Scylla, lower right a plant, rev. [HPAK**LHIWN*] to right mostly off the flan, **EFAN* in right field, Heracles standing facing, with lion's skin over his left arm, he holds his bow and two arrows in his left hand and rests his right hand on club, on the left, an ear of barley with stem and leaf, (cf.S.390; Van Keuren 90 [same dies] = Rasmussen March 10-12, 1970 (lot 216) = A. Hess April 28 1936 [lot 303] from the same dies). Golden highlights, about as struck, nearly extremely fine/ good very fine with the weakness on Herakles head similar to the other known example, this coin of the greatest rarity and the finest of the two known examples.

Ex Heritage Numismatic Auctions 2003 September 18, Long Beach World Coin Signature Auction (lot 11018).