Naville Numismatics Ltd.
Auction 73 8 May 2022
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Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Hadrian, 117-138 Drachm circa 133-134 (year 18), Æ 35.00 mm., 27.49 g.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Sphinx with crown of disc, horns and feathers, with crocodile emerging from chest, walking, r., on serpent; griffin on back; above at right, small Nike standing l.; in l. field, LIH. RPC 5913.2 (this coin illustrated). Dattari-Savio Pl. 99, 7914 (this coin)
Extremely rare, only two specimens known and the only one in private hands. Attractive brown green patina, Very Fine/Good Very Fine.
From the Dattari collection. Ex Naville sale 33, 227. From the M.N. Collection.
The Sphinx was a monstrous creature with the face of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of a bird, who lived on a mountain west of Thebes, where it ravaged the countryside and devoured any mortal who was not able to answer the riddle. She was sent there by Hera to punish Laius who fall in love with Chrysippus. What is that has one name that is four-footed, two-footed and three-footed?" This was the famous riddle that the Sphinx asked Oedipus when he came to Thebes and he was the only one who provided the right answer: the man. After the sphynx had killed herself, he became the king of Thebes and received the hand of the widowed queen Jocasta, his mother. She gave birth to four children: Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone and Ismene. Later, when the truth surfaced, Jocasta decided to commit suicide, and Oedipus (according to a different version of the story), after blinding himself, went into exile. Oedipus died at Colonus near Athens, where he was swallowed by the earth and became a guardian of the land."
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Sphinx with crown of disc, horns and feathers, with crocodile emerging from chest, walking, r., on serpent; griffin on back; above at right, small Nike standing l.; in l. field, LIH. RPC 5913.2 (this coin illustrated). Dattari-Savio Pl. 99, 7914 (this coin)
Extremely rare, only two specimens known and the only one in private hands. Attractive brown green patina, Very Fine/Good Very Fine.
From the Dattari collection. Ex Naville sale 33, 227. From the M.N. Collection.
The Sphinx was a monstrous creature with the face of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of a bird, who lived on a mountain west of Thebes, where it ravaged the countryside and devoured any mortal who was not able to answer the riddle. She was sent there by Hera to punish Laius who fall in love with Chrysippus. What is that has one name that is four-footed, two-footed and three-footed?" This was the famous riddle that the Sphinx asked Oedipus when he came to Thebes and he was the only one who provided the right answer: the man. After the sphynx had killed herself, he became the king of Thebes and received the hand of the widowed queen Jocasta, his mother. She gave birth to four children: Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone and Ismene. Later, when the truth surfaced, Jocasta decided to commit suicide, and Oedipus (according to a different version of the story), after blinding himself, went into exile. Oedipus died at Colonus near Athens, where he was swallowed by the earth and became a guardian of the land."