EGYPT. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius (138-161). Ae Drachm. Dated RY 10 (AD 146/7).

Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝЄΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ЄΥϹ.
Laureate head right.
Rev: L ΔЄΚΑΤΟΥ.
Herakles and the apples of the Hesperides: Herakles wearing lion skin, club over shoulder, advancing right, picking apple from tree, around which is entwined a serpent with arrow through neck.

RPC IV.4 980; Dattari (Savio) 8495; Emmett 1554.10.

Herakles' penultimate effort takes place in the garden of the Hesperides. The apples had been Gaia's gift for the wedding of Zeus and Hera, and were guarded by the Hesperides, daughters of Night, and the hundred-headed serpent Ladon, constantly coiled around the trunk of the tree, at Hera's behest. Herakles killed him by shooting an arrow over the garden wall, built by Atlas. Hera could only ease the pain of Ladon's death by placing his image among the stars, as the constellation of the Serpent. The day after, the Argonauts also came to the garden and witnessed the transformation of the Hesperides into trees, desperate for the loss of their treasure and their guardian.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 21.76 g.
Diameter: 34 mm.