Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 534 15 Mar 2023
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LYDIA, Sardis. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ (25mm, 7.19 g, 6h). Radiate head right / Hercules advancing right, leading the Cretan Bull by the horns and holding club. Kurth 528; BMC 164. Rough brown patina, pitting. Fine. Very rare, the second known example.
This reverse type has two variations, both extremely rare. One naming the archon Antonius Rufus (Kurth 506; known from only three specimens), and this type with only the city name on the reverse. Kurth knew of only the BM specimen at the time of her publication. This appears to be the second known specimen of an already rare type.
Compelled to capture the bull as his seventh Labor, Herakles sailed to Crete. Minos, the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles subdued the Bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the Bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull.
This reverse type has two variations, both extremely rare. One naming the archon Antonius Rufus (Kurth 506; known from only three specimens), and this type with only the city name on the reverse. Kurth knew of only the BM specimen at the time of her publication. This appears to be the second known specimen of an already rare type.
Compelled to capture the bull as his seventh Labor, Herakles sailed to Crete. Minos, the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles subdued the Bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the Bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull.