Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 400-325 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.59 g, 7h). Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; KPOTΩNIA-TAΣ around / The Herakliskos Drakonopnigon: the Infant Herakles, nude, crouching facing on rock, head left, strangling a serpent in each hand. Attianese 163; HN Italy 2157; SNG ANS 384 (same rev. die); SNG Lloyd 618 (same obv. die); Dewing 513; Gillet 301 (same dies); Gulbenkian 133 (same obv. die); Jameson 433–4; Kraay & Hirmer 271; Morgan 95 (this coin). Beautiful cabinet tone, light scratch under tone in field on reverse. Good VF. Fine style.
From the Pythagoras Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 40 (with Numismatica Ars Classica, 1 December 1996), lot 700; Hess-Leu [9] (2 April 1958), lot 37; J. Pierpont Morgan Collection (sold privately; not in H. Schulman or Stack's sales); Marquis Carlo Strozzi Collection (Sambon/Sangiorgi, 15 April 1907), lot 1233.
The figure of Herakliskos Drakonopnigon was depicted in Greek art from the first half of the 5th century BC and represents an important event in the early life of the Greek hero. The birth of Herakles, son of Zeus and Alkmene, enraged Zeus' wife Hera, who tried to kill the infant by sending two serpents to strangle the sleeping baby in his crib. The following morning, the nurse discovered Herakles playing with the serpents' lifeless bodies: he had strangled one in each hand.
From the Pythagoras Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 40 (with Numismatica Ars Classica, 1 December 1996), lot 700; Hess-Leu [9] (2 April 1958), lot 37; J. Pierpont Morgan Collection (sold privately; not in H. Schulman or Stack's sales); Marquis Carlo Strozzi Collection (Sambon/Sangiorgi, 15 April 1907), lot 1233.
The figure of Herakliskos Drakonopnigon was depicted in Greek art from the first half of the 5th century BC and represents an important event in the early life of the Greek hero. The birth of Herakles, son of Zeus and Alkmene, enraged Zeus' wife Hera, who tried to kill the infant by sending two serpents to strangle the sleeping baby in his crib. The following morning, the nurse discovered Herakles playing with the serpents' lifeless bodies: he had strangled one in each hand.