Hercules as Founder of Tarsus

Triton XXII, Lot: 525. Estimate $500. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Tarsus. Macrinus. AD 217-218. AR Didrachm(?) (22mm, 5.14 g, 12h). AVT K M OΠ CЄV MAKPINOC CЄ-B, laureate head right / TAP MHTP KTIC-T-H-C, Hercules reclining left on lion’s skin, holding club in right hand and cantharus in left. Prieur 806; cf. SNG BN 1547; SNG Levante 1074. Good VF, lightly toned, minor porosity. Extremely rare.

From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 72 (14 June 2006), lot 1204.

The reverse legend names Hercules as ktistes (“founder”) of the city.