BITHYNIA, Heraclaea Pontica. Saloninus. As Caesar, AD 258-260. Æ (26.5mm, 8.06 g, 6h). Labors of Hercules issue.

Electronic Auction 494
Lot: 307. Estimated: $ 200

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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BITHYNIA, Heraclaea Pontica. Saloninus. As Caesar, AD 258-260. Æ (26.5mm, 8.06 g, 6h). Labors of Hercules issue. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hercules and the Cattle of Geryon: Hercules standing left, holding club; behind, one of the cattle, standing right, head facing. RG –; Voegtli –, but cf. 6d ([Macrinus] for rev.); cf. SNG von Aulock 463-4 (for obv.; same die). Brown patina, traces of stable green deposits, cleaning marks. Fine. An unknown type for Saloninus.

Hercules’ Tenth Labor required him to travel to Erytheia to capture the Cattle of Geryon. En route, while crossing the Libyan Desert, he became so frustrated by the heat that he shot an arrow at the sun. Impressed by the hero’s courage, Helios allowed Hercules to use the craft with which he sailed nightly across the Ocean in order for him to reach Erytheia. Upon arriving, Hercules was confronted by the two-headed watchdog, Orthrus, and the herdsman Eurytion, each of whom he killed with his club. Hearing what was happening, Geryon, armed with three shields, three spears, and wearing three helmets, pursued Hercules to the River Anthemus. Once there, Hercules shot Geryon dead with an arrow he had poisoned with the blood of the Lernaean Hydra. To annoy Hercules as he drove the cattle back to Eurystheus, Hera sent a gadfly to scatter the herd by biting them. After a year’s labor, Hercules recovered the herd, but was further hindered by a flood, also caused by the goddess. Hercules eventually returned to Tiryns, and Eurystheus sacrificed the cattle to Hera.

Closing Date and Time: 23 June 2021 at 11:42:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.