Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 423. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $35000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Thebes. Circa 440-425 BC. AR Stater (11.89 g). Boiotian shield / Facing bearded head of Herakles, wearing lion's skin headdress; Q-E across lower field; all within square incuse. Head, Boeotia p. 35, class a = Imhoof-Blumer, Boeotiens, 129, pl. II, 129; Myron Hoard pl. A, 34; SNG Cop. 281; Traité III 234, pl. CC, 3; Pozzi 1423 = Pozzi (Boutin) 3256; Gulbenkian 500. Good VF, soft light- to medium-silvery grey tone, some light scratches on the obverse and a small rough area on the side of the incuse on the reverse. Much rarer reverse die than the previous coin. Of remarkably artistic workmanship. ($10,000)

Ex Leu 28 (5 May 1981), lot 103 (CHF 33,000 hammer).

A totally different rendering to the previous coin; at first glance this Herakles has a more down-to-earth, hairy look about him. Just the sort of apparition one would expect from this demi-god. And yet, closely observed, he slowly changes, becomes immensly powerful but at the same time human and benevolent. There is no ugliness or malice in this superb portrait, only strength, wisdom and the hint of sadness that comes with the inevitable immortality.