Nomos 18

BRUTTIUM. Kroton. Circa 400-325 BC. Nomos (Silver, 21 mm, 7.58 g, 7 h). Head of Hera Lakinia three-quarters facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing stephane ornamented with palmettes; in field to right, Β. Rev. ΚΡΟΤΩΝΙΑΤΑΝ Youthful Herakles seated to left on a rock draped with his lion's skin, holding a one-handled cup in his right hand and resting his left on his club; below, bow. Gulbenkian 131 (same dies). HN III 2169. Kraay & Hirmer 270 = de Luÿnes 728 (same dies). SNG ANS 375 (same dies). Very rare. A splendid piece, of fine late classical style, nicely struck and centered. With the usual die break on Hera's neck, some traces of corrosion and cleaning, and with a minor grafitto on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, formed prior to 2005.

This coin bears a head of Hera that is, like so many other facing heads, derived from Kimon’s Arethusa at Syracuse. The figure of Herakles is probably taken from a 5th century statue that was erected in Kroton to honor him as the city's mythical founder.