K23, Italy, Lucania, Herakleia, AR Stater / Nomos c. 281-278 BC, NGC Ch AU, Very Rare!

K23, Italy, Lucania, Herakleia, AR Stater / Nomos c. 281-278 BC, Silver, 7.59g, c. 281-278. Obv.: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet adorned with olive wreath; to left between helmet crest and neck, monogram. Rev.: Young Herakles standing facing, crowning himself with his right hand and resting his left on his club, wearing lion skin over his head and shoulders, to left, cornucopiae. HN III 1394. SNG Lockett 347. SNG Oxford 632. Van Keuren 96. Very Rare. NGC Ch AU Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5.

Similar coins in the same condition:

1. CNG, Sale 63, lot 48, May 21, 2003, realized $6000,- + BP.

2. Leu Numismatik AG, Sale 83, lot 13, May 6, 2002, realized CHF 7.000,- + BP.

Some useful info:

Quoting CNG:

"This victorious Herakles is a remarkable departure from the standard Herakleia eponymous type. It was struck during the first years of the Pyrrhic War, shortly after Pyrrhos of Epeiros arrived in Italy in response to the plea of the southern cities for aid against Rome. His first major battle with the Romans was on the banks of the river Siris near Herakleia in 280 BC, where, after repulsing the Romans with heavy losses on both sides, he uttered the famous phrase "One more such victory and I must return to Epeiros alone!". The Herakleians still felt the victory deserved commemoration, striking a series of nomoi with victorious Herakles. The style of these Pyrrhic era coins is so different for the somewhat stodgy formalized style of their predecessors that is it likely they were prepared with the assistance of workmen brought from Epeiros."

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