Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 73. Estimate CHF95000.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF82500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOEOTIA, Thebes. Circa 440-425 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.23 g). Boeotian shield. Rev. ΘΕ Head of Herakles facing, bearded and wearing lion skin headdress; all within incuse square. BCD Boiotia 422 (same dies). SNG Copenhagen 281. Traité III 234 and pl. CC, 3. Very rare. A superb piece, very well centered, perhaps the finest known. Lightly toned and, extremely fine.

This is unquestionably one of the most startling heads of Herakles ever to appear on a coin: the full frontal view is unusual but the staring, eerie expression makes it clear that we are facing a god and not a mortal.