Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 121 6-8 Oct 2022
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EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35mm, 25.51 g, 12h). Labors of Hercules series. Dated RY 10 (AD 146/7). AVT K T AIΛ A∆P ANTωNЄINOC C ЄB ЄVC, laureate head right / Hercules and the Apples of the Hesperides: Hercules standing right, lion's skin and club over his left shoulder, holding club with his left hand and reaching with his right hand for the Apples of the Hesperides hanging from branch of tree to right; the serpent Ladon coiled around the tree's trunk; L ΔЄKA TOV (date) around. Köln 1545; Dattari (Savio) 2604 & 8495-6; K&G 35.354; RPC IV.4 Online; Emmett 1554.10. Brown and red patina, some cleaning marks, minor tooling and smoothing. Good VF. Rare. Emmett lists this type as being struck for three of Pius' regnal years: 5, 6, and 10.
Because he had been assisted in completing some of his earlier tasks, Hercules was compelled to undergo two more labors. The first of these was to steal the Apples of the Hesperides, nymphs who lived in a grove at the far western edge of the world. Hercules tricked the Titan Atlas, whose task it was to hold up the heavens, to retrieve the apples in return for holding up the heavens while he did so. Having accomplished the task, Atlas was reticent to give up his freedom, and told Hercules that he would take back the apples to Mycenae. Once again, Hercules tricked the Titan, requesting that Atlas hold the heavens, while Hercules adjusted his cloak to be more comfortable.
Because he had been assisted in completing some of his earlier tasks, Hercules was compelled to undergo two more labors. The first of these was to steal the Apples of the Hesperides, nymphs who lived in a grove at the far western edge of the world. Hercules tricked the Titan Atlas, whose task it was to hold up the heavens, to retrieve the apples in return for holding up the heavens while he did so. Having accomplished the task, Atlas was reticent to give up his freedom, and told Hercules that he would take back the apples to Mycenae. Once again, Hercules tricked the Titan, requesting that Atlas hold the heavens, while Hercules adjusted his cloak to be more comfortable.