Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 742 Numistats ref: 673231
Postumus
Authority
Aureus
Denomination
-
Year
RIC ric.5.post.4
RIC 4
References
Roman Imperial
Category
Postumus. Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 260-269. Denarius (19mm, 2.81 g, 12h). Trier mint. 8th emission, circa early-circa mid AD 268. POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust of Postumus right, seen from front, with fold of drapery on left shoulder, jugate with the laureate head of Hercules / HERCVLI PISAEO, Hercules, nude, standing left, seen from behind, brandishing long-handled ax with both hands; water jar (for cleansing the Augean stables) at his feet to left. RIC V.4 362 (this coin cited and illustrated); cf. Schulte 135 (for rev. type); RSC 134 var. (bust left). Darkly toned, pososity, flan crack. VF. Unique. This coin shares a reverse die with the aureus of the same type (RIC V.4 364/1).
Ex Jacquier 42 (16 September 2016), lot 583 (hammer €9,000).
Hercules, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, endured the jealousy and hatred of Hera, the sister and wife of Zeus. Hera made Hercules insanely mad, leading him to kill his wife, six of his own children, and two of his brothers, mistaking them for his enemies. Overcome with remorse, Hercules went to Delphi and sought guidance from the Oracle. Aware that Hera wanted nothing more than to kill Hercules, the Oracle required that Hercules serve Eurystheus, King of Mycenae, for twelve years. The king demanded that Hercules complete a series of impossible labors, sometimes called the “twelve impossible tasks,” to make atonement for his actions and be rewarded with immortality. The Twelve Labors of Hercules required extraordinary physical strength and clear mental acumen to achieve.
Cleansing the Augean Stables was the Fifth of the Twelve Labors of Hercules. For decades the stables of King Augeas had gone uncleaned, building up filth upon filth. His task was to clean these vast stables. Hercules diverted waters of two nearby rivers, effectively cleaning all the stables in a single day.
On the reverse of the coin celebrating this feat is the legend HERCVLI PISAEO, “To the Pisan Hercules”: Hercules called Pisan from Pisa, the name of the area around Olympia where he was especially worshipped. Description
Ex Jacquier 42 (16 September 2016), lot 583 (hammer €9,000).
Hercules, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, endured the jealousy and hatred of Hera, the sister and wife of Zeus. Hera made Hercules insanely mad, leading him to kill his wife, six of his own children, and two of his brothers, mistaking them for his enemies. Overcome with remorse, Hercules went to Delphi and sought guidance from the Oracle. Aware that Hera wanted nothing more than to kill Hercules, the Oracle required that Hercules serve Eurystheus, King of Mycenae, for twelve years. The king demanded that Hercules complete a series of impossible labors, sometimes called the “twelve impossible tasks,” to make atonement for his actions and be rewarded with immortality. The Twelve Labors of Hercules required extraordinary physical strength and clear mental acumen to achieve.
Cleansing the Augean Stables was the Fifth of the Twelve Labors of Hercules. For decades the stables of King Augeas had gone uncleaned, building up filth upon filth. His task was to clean these vast stables. Hercules diverted waters of two nearby rivers, effectively cleaning all the stables in a single day.
On the reverse of the coin celebrating this feat is the legend HERCVLI PISAEO, “To the Pisan Hercules”: Hercules called Pisan from Pisa, the name of the area around Olympia where he was especially worshipped. Description
VF
Grade
2876.25 EUR
Starting
4793.75 EUR
Estimate
EUR
Realized
Roman Imperial. Postumus. Aureus RIC ric.5.post.4 RIC 4
Postumus
Authority
Aureus
Denomination
-
Mint
-
Year
RIC ric.5.post.4
RIC 4
References
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG
Obverse Legend
P M TR P III COS III P P
Reverse Legend
Bust of Postumus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right
Obverse Type
Postumus, veiled, draped, standing left, sacrificing at altar with right hand and holding sceptre in left hand
Reverse Type
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