Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 717. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $20000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BITHYNIA, Bithynium-Claudiopolis. Antinoüs, favorite of Hadrian. Died 130 AD. Æ Medallion (38mm, 45.49 gm, 6h). ANTINOON QEWN H PATRIC, bare-headed and draped bust right / BEIQUNEIWN ADRIANWN, Antinoüs, as Hermes Nomios, standing facing right, wearing short chiton, chlamys, and winged sandals, holding pedum in left hand, the right raised protectively over the forepart of a grazing cow standing left beside a tree; star above. Blum pg. 44, 8; RG pg. 270,15; BMC Pontus pg. 117, 3; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -. Good VF, matte dark brown patina. One of the finest unaltered Antinoüs bronzes known. ($10,000)

From the David A. Dowdy Collection. Ex Leu 30 (28 April 1982), lot 367; Sternberg 7 (24-25 November 1977), lot 644

In Egypt, the cult of Antinoüs saw him as an avatar of Hermes-Thoth, a messenger between mortals and the gods. Elsewhere, he was seen in another guise, as Hermes Nomios, or the "Herdsman". As defender of the herd or flock, Hermes brought forth fecundity and prosperity, just as Antinoüs would bring good fortune to those who did him honor.

See lot 715 for a note on the life and coinage of Antinoüs.