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213
Carian Satraps. Pixodaros. Silver Didrachm (7.03 g), ca. 341/0-336/5 BC. Halikarnassos. Laureate head
of Apollo facing slightly right, drapery tied at neck. Rev.
P
I
X
O
D
APOY, Zeus Labraundos standing right,
holding labrys. Konuk 30; SNG Keckman 280; SNG Kayhan 891-2. Original patina. Uncleaned. Superb
Extremely Fine.
$1,500
Stunning Quality Kos Silver Tetradrachm
214
Islands off Caria, Kos. Silver Tetradrachm (14.82 g), ca. 400-385 BC. Lysichos, magistrate. Bearded head
of Herakles left, wearing lion’s skin headdress. Rev. K
W
ION, crab; above, magistrate’s name:
L
Y
S
IXO
S
;
below, club; all in dotted square within incuse square. Stefanaki 153-60; HGC 6, 1301. Attractively toned.
Extremely Fine.
$3,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
The crab of the reverse was a civic badge of Kos - a perfectly reasonable emblem for an island city - but its combination with
the head of Herakles on the obverse seems to refer to a somewhat obscure detail of that hero’s Second Labor. In this Labor,
Herakles was required to slay the Lernaean Hydra. When Herakles began to gain the upper hand over the Hydra, Hera is said
to have sent a giant crab to attack him as well. Nevertheless, the hero still managed to kill the Hydra and crush the crab un-
der foot. Again disappointed in her plot to destroy Herakles, Hera placed the crab in the heavens as the constellation Cancer.