Triton XVII, Lot: 1069. Estimate $7500. Sold for $7000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Ferrara. Ercole I d'Este. 1471-1505. AR Testone (28mm, 7.72 g, 7h). HERCVLES FERRAR DVX II, bare head right; wedge stops / Seven-headed Hydra. CNI X 33; Morosini 4; Biaggi 769. EF, toned. Artistic craftsmanship.

This wonderful reverse type refers to the construction of the Addizione Erculea, a northern suburb of Ferrara. The area where the addition was made was covered with malaria-ridden swamps which had to be filled before construction could begin. To symbolize this monumental task, Ercole chose a scene from the exploits of his namesake, Hercules, who slayed the mythological seven-headed Hydra, and placed it on his coinage.