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ANA Signature Sale 3101 25-28 Aug 2022
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Ancients
IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 387-326 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (10mm, 2.54 gm). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Head of Queen Omphale left, wearing lion-skin headdress of Heracles and pendant earring, club over shoulder right shoulder; seal left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 107. SNG Copenhagen 1029. Struck from pleasing style dies. Attractive deep toning with hints of red.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 237 (21 July 2010), lot 30
Omphale was a legendary queen of Lydia whose year-long interlude as the "dominatrix" mistress of the Greek hero Heracles presented ancient writers and artists an opportunity for erotic expression. After murdering his friend Iphitus in a drunken rage, Hercules was commanded by the Delphic Oracle to report to Omphale. They ordered him to serve her as an enslaved person and perform labors, similar to those he completed while serving Eurystheus. Omphale reportedly humiliated Heracles by making him wear women's clothing and spin wool, stereotypical female roles. Meanwhile, she wore his Nemean lion headdress and held his club, as depicted on this lovely electrum hecte. After a time, Omphale freed Heracles and "married" him in the Eastern fashion. There was an element of sexual role reversal in the narrative that both amused and titillated the ancients.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ionia-phocaea-ca-387-326-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-10mm-254-gm-ngc-choice-vf-5-5-3-5-brushed/a/3101-32033.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3101-08252022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD
IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 387-326 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (10mm, 2.54 gm). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Head of Queen Omphale left, wearing lion-skin headdress of Heracles and pendant earring, club over shoulder right shoulder; seal left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 107. SNG Copenhagen 1029. Struck from pleasing style dies. Attractive deep toning with hints of red.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 237 (21 July 2010), lot 30
Omphale was a legendary queen of Lydia whose year-long interlude as the "dominatrix" mistress of the Greek hero Heracles presented ancient writers and artists an opportunity for erotic expression. After murdering his friend Iphitus in a drunken rage, Hercules was commanded by the Delphic Oracle to report to Omphale. They ordered him to serve her as an enslaved person and perform labors, similar to those he completed while serving Eurystheus. Omphale reportedly humiliated Heracles by making him wear women's clothing and spin wool, stereotypical female roles. Meanwhile, she wore his Nemean lion headdress and held his club, as depicted on this lovely electrum hecte. After a time, Omphale freed Heracles and "married" him in the Eastern fashion. There was an element of sexual role reversal in the narrative that both amused and titillated the ancients.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ionia-phocaea-ca-387-326-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-10mm-254-gm-ngc-choice-vf-5-5-3-5-brushed/a/3101-32033.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3101-08252022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD