Asia, Ionia, Erythrai, Hecte ca. 550-500BC

Asia. Ionia. Erythrai. Hecte ca. 550-500 BC. Electrum 2.55 g.; 10 mm.
Obverse: Head of Hercules, wearing the skin of the Nemean lion // Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square.

SNG-vonAulock: 1942.

A spectacular Hecte with its archaic representation of the mythical Hercules, wearing the skin of the Lion of Nemea. A representation that is extremely well known from the coins of Alexander III the Great, here we have a superb overview of this Greek myth in a very rare and very ancient style, showing how it was perceived by the Greek engravers of archaic Ionian societies, near the Lydian region, the birthplace of coinages.
Almost uncirculated AU 50-53