Kephos - National Hero of Tegea

CNG 85, Lot: 383. Estimate $1000. Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARKADIA, Tegea. Circa 350-330 BC. AR Hemidrachm (16mm, 2.65 g, 11h). Helmeted head of Athena Alea right / Kephos, nude but for helmet, advancing right, holding dagger and shield decorated with griffin; retrograde K between legs, spear below. BCD Peloponnesos 1731 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 297 (same obv. die); Weber 4347 (same dies). VF, lightly toned, light mark in field on reverse, a hint of die rust. Very rare.

Ex BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 79, 17 September 2008), lot 298.

The reverse type is nearly an exact copy of that on issues of Lokris Opuntia. While the figures on both appear the same, they are traditionally viewed as the respective local hero; Ajax at Lokris, Kephos in Tegea. Kephos was a companion of Herakles and the national hero of Tegea.