Nomos 15

THRACE. Abdera. Circa 411/0-386/5 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 13.06 g, 6 h). ΑΒΔΗ Griffin seated to left, his right forepaw raised and his wings slightly spread; to left, cicada seen from above. Rev. ΕΠΙ - ΦΙ-Λ-ΑΔΟΣ Herakles seated half-left, on rock covered by a lion's skin, his torso facing; holding club resting on the ground with his right hand and resting his left on the rock below; all within shallow incuse square. AMNG 106 var. May, Abdera 391var. (same obverse die A 276, but with a completely new reverse). Very rare. Attractively toned and a masterpiece of the Classical Style of the early 4th century BC. Minor die break on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

Ex LHS 102 29 April 2008, 105; Ex Sternberg XIX, 18 November 1987, 87.

This coin shows the great ability of the artist/engraver who made the dies. He has portrayed a markedly weary Herakles: his left arm rests on the rock on which he sits, seemingly supporting him lest he collapse from all his exertions.

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