Nomos 19

CILICIA. Uncertain mint. Circa 449-425 BC. Stater (Silver, 19 mm, 10.78 g, 9 h). Herakles striding to right, holding club in his upraised right hand, preparing to strike a fallen helmeted warrior – almost certainly an Amazon with bare breasts – whom he holds by the helmet with his left hand; in field to left, uncertain Aramaic letter (zayin?). Rev. Bull standing to right, its tail entwined with a ribbon; all within a square border of dots inside a shallow incuse square. Apparently unpublished save for auction appearances, as Obolos 13, 2019, 408 (same obverse die), Roma XVI, 2018, 334 (same dies). Of great rarity. With a fascinating obverse type. As usual, struck from a somewhat worn and corroded obverse die, otherwise, good very fine.

The obverse of this coin depicts Herakles preparing to kill Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. One of the labors of Herakles was to get the famous Belt of Hippolyta, which had been given to her by Ares. When he arrived she was most impressed by him and decided to give him the belt; this was not to the liking of Hera, who wished to foil Herakles, and, stirring up trouble, caused the Amazons to attack. As a result, feeling betrayed, Herakles killed Hippolyta.