Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 556. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Thyatira. Commodus. 177-192 AD. Æ Medallion (43mm, 49.61 g, 6h). T. Aurelius Barbarus, strategus. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; c/m: laureate and draped bust right within oval incuse / Hephaestus seated left on wreathed cippus, putting finishing touches with hammer on a Corinthian helmet set on low column, while Athena, standing left, holding spear and shield, touches top of column; EPI CTPA TIT-OV AVP-HLIOV BAPBAPO in legend. For coin type: cf. SNG Copenhagen 600 (Rape of Persephone; same obv. die); BMC Lydia 82; for c/m: Howgego 93. Fine, black olive and brick-red patina with lighter gray-green overtones. Rare and attractive mythological type. ($750)

As related by Homer (Iliad 18), Achilles’ armor was lost when, still sulking in his tent, he allowed his companion Patroclus to wear it while he spurred the Greeks into a battle on the plains below Troy. Overconfident, Patroclus met Hector in single combat. Mistaking Patroclus for Achilles, the Trojan hero Hector brutally killed him and dragged off Patroclus’ still-armored corpse as a war prize. Achilles’ mother, the sea nymph Thetis, persuaded the god Hephaestus to construct a new set of armor, among which a highly decorated shield was included.