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EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35mm, 25.15 g, 12h). Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Herakles, wearing lion’s skin, standing right, club to left, holding the Erymanthian Boar on his left shoulder with both hands, displaying it to Eurystheus, who stands left in a crater at Herakles’ feet, arms raised in terror; L [TЄTAP]TOV (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2596 = RPC IV.4 244.2 (this coin); K&G –; Emmett 1544.4 (R5). Rough brown surfaces. Fine. Extremely rare.
From the Hesiod Collection. Ex Dattari Collection (Naville 78, 11 December 2022), lot 178.
The Erymanthean Boar resided in a grove sacred to Artemis near Mount Erymanthus in Arcadia, and would descend from the wilderness to wreck havoc on the surrounding farms and groves. While hunting for it, Herakles visited his friend, the centaur Pholus, who lived in a cave on the mountain. Hungry and thirsty, the centaur provided him with food, but shied from offering him the wine he had because it did not belong to him, and was for the use of all the centaurs. Herakles nevertheless opened the jar, and, smelling the wine’s aroma, the other centaurs became excited and intoxicated. A fight soon ensued, and Herakles slew a number of centaurs with arrows poisoned by the blood of the Hydra. During the melee, another of Herakles’ friends, the kindly centaur Chiron, was accidentally wounded. Although Chiron did not die, as he was immortal, he did experience great pain. Herakles attempted to medicate the wound, but his ministrations were of little avail. In return for his kindness, however, Chiron offered advice to the hero as to how he could capture the Boar. Once again pursuing the creature, he easily trapped the Boar by pursuing it through the mountain snows until the creature collapsed from exhaustion. Netting the animal, he carried it back to Tiryns and presented it to Eurystheus. Frightened by the Boar, Eurystheus hid himself in a large bronze crater.
Closing Date and Time: 21 May 2025 at 13:05:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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