Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 851. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYPRUS, Lapethos. Late 6th-early 5th century BC. AR Stater – Double Siglos (10.82 g, 6h). Wounded giant kneeling left / Herakles running right, wearing lion skin, holding club, bow, and arrows, within dotted border; all in incuse square. Kagan, Archaic pl. 7, D (same obv. die); A. Destrooper-Georgiades, “Le trésor de Larnaca réexaminé,” Report of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus 1984, pl. XXVIII, 12-13 = E.S.G. Robinson, “Notes on the Larnaca Hoard,” NC 1935, pl. 15, 6-7 (same obv. die); E. Schmidt, Persepolis II, Contents of the Treasury (Chicago, 1957), 39 (same obv. die); Rosen 748. Fine, toned, two test cuts. Extremely rare, this apparently the fifth known.

The first two examples of this type were found in the Larnaca Hoard (IGCH 1272), followed by the example found in the Persepolis deposit (IGCH 1789). These three are all in museum collections. The current location of the Rosen coin is uncertain (it was not included in the portion of his collection sold in Münzen und Medaillen 72).

It was foretold that the Olympians would be successful in their war against the Giants (Gigantomachy) only if they enlisted the assistance of a mortal. Herakles was summoned and immediately began assisting in finishing off the Giants. One of their leaders, Alkyonios, was dispatched when Herakles shot him with arrows and dragged him to a far-off land, since the Giant could only die outside of his homeland. The use of Herakles and his mythology is appropriate here, since Cyprus had an important cult center devoted to the hero.