Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3040 9-10 April 2015
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Ancients
MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis. Septimius Severus (AD 193-211). Æ 42mm medallion (52.54 gm, 2h). Aurelius Gallus, magistrate. ΑV K Λ CEΠ CЄVΗΡΟC Π, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Severus right / V AV ΓAΛΛΟ • MA-PKIAN, Hephaestus seated to right on cippus, applying hammer to a crested Corinthian (for Achilles) helmet set on low column, faced by Athena, standing left and holding spear and shield; in exergue, OΠOΛΙΤΩΝ. Varbanov -. AMNG -. BMC -. Apparently unrecorded! A massive and impressive medallion in the finest provincial style, seemingly unrecorded in the main references. Somewhat smoothed in fields, but all detail in legends and devices appears to be original. Dark brown and green patina. Nearly Extremely Fine.An episode in the Illiad recounts that the divine mother of Achilles, Thetis, approached Hephaestus asking him to make new armor for her son, who was grieving over the death of Patroclus. Achilles was without armor because Patroclus had worn it leading the Myrmidions against the Trojans, whose leader Hector slew Patroclus and took the armor as spoil. Hephaestus, who favored the Greek cause, made new armor for Achilles, including a helmet, breastplate, and an ornate shield that Homer describes in great detail. Thetis and Athena delivered the new gear to Achilles, who wore it into combat against Hector, who confronted him wearing Achilles's old armor. As both sets of divine armor could not be pierced by mortal weapons, the battle raged for some time before, with Athena's help, Achilles thrust his spear through a gap in Hector's breastplate and slew him. The scene shown on the reverse of this unique medallion depicts Hephaestus putting the finishing touches on Achilles's helmet, with Athena looking on approvingly.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD
MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis. Septimius Severus (AD 193-211). Æ 42mm medallion (52.54 gm, 2h). Aurelius Gallus, magistrate. ΑV K Λ CEΠ CЄVΗΡΟC Π, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Severus right / V AV ΓAΛΛΟ • MA-PKIAN, Hephaestus seated to right on cippus, applying hammer to a crested Corinthian (for Achilles) helmet set on low column, faced by Athena, standing left and holding spear and shield; in exergue, OΠOΛΙΤΩΝ. Varbanov -. AMNG -. BMC -. Apparently unrecorded! A massive and impressive medallion in the finest provincial style, seemingly unrecorded in the main references. Somewhat smoothed in fields, but all detail in legends and devices appears to be original. Dark brown and green patina. Nearly Extremely Fine.An episode in the Illiad recounts that the divine mother of Achilles, Thetis, approached Hephaestus asking him to make new armor for her son, who was grieving over the death of Patroclus. Achilles was without armor because Patroclus had worn it leading the Myrmidions against the Trojans, whose leader Hector slew Patroclus and took the armor as spoil. Hephaestus, who favored the Greek cause, made new armor for Achilles, including a helmet, breastplate, and an ornate shield that Homer describes in great detail. Thetis and Athena delivered the new gear to Achilles, who wore it into combat against Hector, who confronted him wearing Achilles's old armor. As both sets of divine armor could not be pierced by mortal weapons, the battle raged for some time before, with Athena's help, Achilles thrust his spear through a gap in Hector's breastplate and slew him. The scene shown on the reverse of this unique medallion depicts Hephaestus putting the finishing touches on Achilles's helmet, with Athena looking on approvingly.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD