Ionia. Erythrai. 275-220 BC. Æ (6.71g, 3h). Kinns 198; SNG Copenhagen -. Superb brown patina. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; former Sunrise collection, Triton 2007 (10) lot 293; Frank Sternberg 1982 (12) lot 246; Glendining's 1972 (21 June) lot 250

Herakles is undoubtedly the most famous of all heroes. He would have accomplished innumerables exploits and nobody would have killed more monsters than him! Although some facial details led to caricature (Epicharmus had already left a memorable portrait of him as a greedy pig eating with creaking jaws), the Ancients did not hesitate to transform the hero obsessed about fights, wounds and excesses, into a master of wiseness and a model of all virtues!