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Herakleia, Lucania
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330/25 - 281 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.55g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone; K to right.
R: Herakles standing facing, holding club in right hand and bow in left, lion's skin draped over left arm, Nike crowning from above; AΛ to left, Σ to right.
Van Keuren 80; SNG ANS 68; Hands Period II, 6; HGC I, 981; HN Italy1383
ex Ancient Art and Treasures
Although not rare, this obverse more typically has the Herakles strangling the Nemean lion reverse, while this Herakles standing reverse is usually paired with a Corinthian helmeted Athena. In fact many attributions incorrectly refer to the Corinthian type, as this coin was.
The 'K' in front of Athena (a bit distorted here) may be the signature of Kleudoros, a master engraver in southern Italy at this period. Although I can find no solid verification of this, a comparison of the artistic style of this Athena with those of the didrachms of Velia seem to show a similarity.
A classic example of Magna Graecian numismatic art, imo.
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![Herakleia, Lucania
330/25 - 281 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.55g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone; K to right.
R: Herakles standing facing, holding club in right hand and bow in left, lion's skin draped over left arm, Nike crowning from above; AΛ to left, Σ to right.
Van Keuren 80; SNG ANS 68; Hands Period II, 6; HGC I, 981; HN Italy1383
ex Ancient Art and Treasures
[i] Although not rare, this obverse more typically has the Herakles strangling the Nemean lion reverse, while this Herakles standing reverse is usually paired with a Corinthian helmeted Athena. In fact many attributions incorrectly refer to the Corinthian type, as this coin was.
The 'K' in front of Athena (a bit distorted here) may be the signature of Kleudoros, a master engraver in southern Italy at this period. Although I can find no solid verification of this, a comparison of the artistic style of this Athena with those of the didrachms of Velia seem to show a similarity.
A classic example of Magna Graecian numismatic art, imo.[/i]](albums/userpics/21312/jA28DW9x4Lcco3Ti2ZabdNN65Qpysk~2.jpg "Herakleia, Lucania
330/25 - 281 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.55g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone; K to right.
R: Herakles standing facing, holding club in right hand and bow in left, lion's skin draped over left arm, Nike crowning from above; AΛ to left, Σ to right.
Van Keuren 80; SNG ANS 68; Hands Period II, 6; HGC I, 981; HN Italy1383
ex Ancient Art and Treasures
[i] Although not rare, this obverse more typically has the Herakles strangling the Nemean lion reverse, while this Herakles standing reverse is usually paired with a Corinthian helmeted Athena. In fact many attributions incorrectly refer to the Corinthian type, as this coin was.
The 'K' in front of Athena (a bit distorted here) may be the signature of Kleudoros, a master engraver in southern Italy at this period. Although I can find no solid verification of this, a comparison of the artistic style of this Athena with those of the didrachms of Velia seem to show a similarity.
A classic example of Magna Graecian numismatic art, imo.[/i]")
