Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 494 23 Jun 2021
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THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ (28mm, 9.88 g, 1h). Labor of Hercules issue. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra: Hercules standing right, holding club oversr shoulder and grabbing Lernaean Hydra. Jurukova, Hadrianople – (V257/R615); RPC VII.2 Online (unassigned; ID 67335 (4th specimen) = Gorny & Mosch 134, lot 1834 (same rev. die); cf. Varbanov 3800 (for rev.). Rough light brown surfaces, double strike on reverse. VF. Extremely rare die combination.
For his second labor, Hercules had to kill the Lernaean Hydra, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, and the sibling of the Nemean Lion, the Chimaera, and Kerberos. Inhabiting the swamp near Lake Lerna in the Argolid, the creature possessed numerous mortal and one immortal head on its single body; should one head be removed, two more would grow in its place. When Hercules reached the swamp where the Hydra dwelt, he drew it out of its lair near the spring of Amymone. Thereupon, wielding a harvesting sickle, he attempted to decapitate the creature. When this proved unsuccessful, because of the Hydra's regenerative ability, Hercules enlisted the assistance of his nephew Iolaos, who devised a plan: once Hercules had cut off one of the creature's heads, Iolaos would cauterize the stump with a burning firebrand. The plan succeeded, and the Hydra was destroyed. Hercules placed its one immortal head under a large rock on the sacred way between Lerna and Elaius and dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood.
For his second labor, Hercules had to kill the Lernaean Hydra, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, and the sibling of the Nemean Lion, the Chimaera, and Kerberos. Inhabiting the swamp near Lake Lerna in the Argolid, the creature possessed numerous mortal and one immortal head on its single body; should one head be removed, two more would grow in its place. When Hercules reached the swamp where the Hydra dwelt, he drew it out of its lair near the spring of Amymone. Thereupon, wielding a harvesting sickle, he attempted to decapitate the creature. When this proved unsuccessful, because of the Hydra's regenerative ability, Hercules enlisted the assistance of his nephew Iolaos, who devised a plan: once Hercules had cut off one of the creature's heads, Iolaos would cauterize the stump with a burning firebrand. The plan succeeded, and the Hydra was destroyed. Hercules placed its one immortal head under a large rock on the sacred way between Lerna and Elaius and dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood.