Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group - Triton XXI, Lot 61

EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.26 g, 11h). Dated RY 12 (AD 127/128). AVT KAI TPAI A∆PIA CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Mummiform Osiris (Ptah-Sokar-Osiris) standing right, holding scepter tipped with jackal-head; L ∆ω∆Є KATOV (date) around. Köln 982; Dattari (Savio) 1445 (this coin); K&G 32.458; RPC III 5713/20 (this coin); Emmett 883.12; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 59 (this coin). Near EF, toned. Rare.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: STATUETTA MUMMIFORME DI OSIRIDE

[King John]

ROMAN EMPIRE
Claudius, A.D. 41-54. AR Denarius (3.41 gms), Lugdunum Mint, Struck 54-55 A.D.
RIC-5; S-2052. Laureate head of Nero left./Funeral cart driven by four horses right. Nice portrait style, small scrape before chin. Light scratches on reverse. Nice.
VERY FINE.
Estimated value: 1500 USD

[King John]

Cleopatra VII of Egypt (51-30 BC). AE hemiobol (5.02 gm). Struck in Patrae, Achaea, 32 BC. BACIΛICCA KΛEOΠATPA, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right / AΓIAC ΛYCΩNOC ΠATREΩN, headdress of Isis. RPC 1245. BMC 15. Extremely rare and likely the finest of 11 known examples! Nearly extremely fine. From the Rubicon Collection. Ex LHS 96 (8 May 2006). Acquired from M&M Basel, 1973. During the initial stages of the Actian campaign, Antony and Cleopatra used the port of Patrae as a staging base for their planned invasion of Italy. Their stay provided the occasion for the issuance of this coin, which combines a fine portrait of Cleopatra with a purely Egyptian reverse, the headdress of Isis. Unusually, the form of legend simply names Cleopatra but does not say the coin is an issue by or of her-- the traditional OY ending found on most royal Greek coins.

[eracle62]

Stupendo il rovescio di Adriano con la mummia di Osiride...

[King John]

Julian II.
Julian II., 360 - 363 n. Chr. Centenionalis 361 - 363 n. Chr. Sirmium. 3.18 g. Vs.: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG, drapierte Panzerbüste mit Perlendiadem, Lanze und Schild n.l. Rs.: VOT / X MVLT / XX / ASIRM im Lorbeerkranz. RIC VIII, 108. Grünschwarze Patina, vz

illustrazione: morte di Giuliano II in battaglia contro i Sasanidi (363 d.C.)

[King John]

Roman Imperial
Trajanus Decius AD 249-251. Possibly Rome Antoninianus AR 21mm., 3,44g. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding standard. very fine RIC IV, 3, p. 121, 12b var. (vertical staff with ass's head).

ILLUSTRAZIONE: ROMANI CONTRO DACI

[eracle62]

Interessante il rovescio di questo antoniniano di Traiano, una Dacia rappresentata in pochi tratti, e caratterizzata da un'aria quasi metafisica..

Andiamo carissimo, questo viaggio è il mio preferito, mi esalta, mi fa compagnia, mi ci vuole, mi ci voglio...

Eros 

p.s. Stasera avevo accanto a me la Travaini..come avrei voluto fossi li con me anche tu, avresti respirato la vera passione...

Modificato 5 Giugno, 2018 da eracle62

[King John]

4 ore fa, eracle62 dice:

Interessante il rovescio di questo antoniniano di Traiano, una Dacia rappresentata in pochi tratti, e caratterizzata da un'aria quasi metafisica..

Andiamo carissimo, questo viaggio è il mio preferito, mi esalta, mi fa compagnia, mi ci vuole, mi ci voglio...

Eros 

p.s. Stasera avevo accanto a me la Travaini..come avrei voluto fossi li con me anche tu, avresti respirato la vera passione...

Grazie del pensiero. Con la professoressa Travaini intrattengo uno scambio epistolare e c'è reciproca stima pur non essendoci mai visti di persona: mi sarebbe piaciuto incontrarla per la prima volta insieme a te e agli altri amici del Cordusio.

Modificato 6 Giugno, 2018 da King John

[King John]

SYRACUSE. Second Democracy, 466-405 B.C.
Gold Tetralitron, ca.406 B.C. Circular shield ornamented with facing gorgoneion, ΣYPAKOΣION around broad rim. Rv. Ephebos (a youth reaching manhood) standing l. removing oil from l. knee with strigil. 3.47 grams. C. Boehringer, "Ehrenrettung einer syrakusanischen Goldmünze in FlorNum, p.764.1 (V1/R1), C. Boehringer, "Zu Finanzpolitik und Münzprägung des Dionysios von Syrakus" in Essays Thompson, pl. 38.11 (same obverse die); De Luynes 1402 (same obverse die). Choice Extremely Fine, slight graze on athlete's face. Extremely rare, one of only eight specimens known of which only three are in private hands. (55,000-65,000)
The shield obverse of this coin is believed to have been influenced by the shield held by the seated figure of Athena on the balustrade of the temple of Athena-Nike on the Akropolis at Athens. The figure of the ephebos is an unprecedented motif on Sicilian coinage and is here treated with masterful and life-like delicacy.
From the Lawrence R. Stack Collection of Ancient Greek Coins. 
Ex James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Triton VII, January 2004, lot 88), NAC 18 (March 2000, lot 128), NAC 7 (March 1994, lot 203).

[King John]

CILICIA, Anazarbus. Valerian I. 253-260 AD. Æ 29mm (12.14 gm). Dated year 272 (253/4 AD).
Estimate $300
CILICIA, Anazarbus. Valerian I. 253-260 AD. Æ 29mm (12.14 gm). Dated year 272 (253/4 AD). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Valerian, as Gymnasiarch (official at the games), standing before large oil urn, aksos (oil vessel) in the form of a squatting animal at his feet; date to right. SNG Levante 1515=Zeigler 830.1 (this coin). Good VF, brown and green patina. Games related issue. ($300)

ILLUSTRAZIONE: VASO A FIGURE ROSSE DEL V SECOLO A.C. CHE RAFFIGURA UN GINNASIARCA

[King John]

Nerva. AD 96-98. Æ Sestertius (24.50 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 97. Laureate head right / PLEBEI VRBANAE FRVMENTO CONSTITVTO, modius containing six wheat-ears and a poppy. RIC II 89; Banti 38. Good Fine, green patina. Rare.
In order to counteract the public discord engendered by Domitian’s assassination and secure his own position on the throne, Nerva embarked on implementing a number of reforms and methods of alleviating the distress of the citizens of Rome. One of these was the special distribution of grain (frumento constituto) to the populace (plebes urbanae) in addition to that which they were already receiving from the annona, a long-standing public institution which had been subsidizing handouts since the time of Augustus. By Nerva’s day, this regular distribution had become so important that any temporary cessation of the supply could result in urban riots. In order to show his good intentions toward the capital and its people and demonstrate that the grain would continue to flow in an unceasing supply, Nerva made this special distribution. The commemoration of the event on this coin further reminded everyone of the “good emperor” who now ruled.

 

ILLUSTRAZIONE: UN MULINO ROMANO CON ANNESSA PANETTERIA

Estimate: $1500

[eracle62]

Beh quel Tetraliton veramente d'impatto, con volto di Gorgogna con effetto plastico quasi tridimensionale..

E quel sesterzio di Nerva quanto racconta..

[King John]

Hess-Divo AG > Auction 334	Auction date: 29 May 2018
Lot number: 135 Price realized: 160,000 CHF   (Approx. 160,820 USD / 139,093 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.	Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming  auctions on
Lot description: ROMAN COINS Estimate: COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. Maxentius, 306-312. Quaternio (4 aurei), gold, Carthago, 307. AV 20.90 g. IMP CM VAL MAXENTIVS PF AVG Bearded, bare head r. Rev. MARTI CONSER - V AVGG ET CAES N / PK Mars, wearing military costume and helmet, advancing r., holding shield with his l. hand, spear in his r. hand. RIC VI not, but cf. 430, 45 (issue for Herculius, rev. from the same die, see C. Vermeule, Roman Medallions [1962], pl. 9, 2); V. Drost, Le monnayage de Maxence, Etudes Suisses de Numismatique 3 (2013), 281, 7 (this specimen); V. Drost and G. Gautier, Le trésor dit "de Partinico": aurei et multiples d'or d'époque tétrarchique découverts au large des côtes de la Sicile (terminus 308 de notre ère), Trésors monétaires XXIV (2011), 176, 172 (this specimen). Unique and spectacular. Insignificant edge nick on rev. Extremely fine Provenance: The Osaka Collection. "Partinico"-Hoard of about 1957-1958. "Property of an European Nobleman" collection. Auction Spink & Son Ltd., London 114 (in association with Christies, London, 1996), 109. Auction Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Zurich 24 (2002), 262. Maxentius, fighter for Rome It was an eventful year, the year 307 AD, when our quadruple gold coin bearing the portrait of Maxentius was minted in Carthage. At the time, many were struggling for power over the Roman Empire. Diocletian had abdicated on May 1st in 305 and appointed his successors. Constantius Chlorus was to be in control of the West with the support of Severus, and Galerius of the East, together with Maximinus Daia. Thus, not only Diocletian’s colleague Maximianus Herculius fell short, who grudgingly accepted his abdication, but above all the sons of Constantius Chlorus and Maximianus Herculius. Diocletian, who had no children, had misjudged the situation and passed over their entitlements. We are not going to retrace all the battles and political dodges that led to these very sons, Constantine I and Maxentius, becoming essential factors of power. Let us jump right into the year 307. At this point, Constantine I had already been established as ruler over Gaul, Spain and Britain. Maxentius was domiciled in Rome. He had taken advantage of the fact that Galerius tried to abolish the tax exemption of the Roman population. It was foolish of Galerius to simultaneously announce that the Praetorians were supposed to give up their comfortable garrison in Rome in order to serve at the front. Citizens and soldiers together called Maxentius for help – an act that Galerius would not tolerate. He ordered Severus to solve the problem. But Maxentius had a trump card: his father Maximianus Herculius, who was sulking in Lucania. When his son sent the message saying he needed him, Maximian instantly rushed to Rome, eager to once more pull the strings of international politics. Maxentius had hoped that his father was still more popular with the army than Galerius or Severus, which was indeed the case. But Maximian wanted to be emperor himself again. And thus, after his arrival in Rome, he simply pushed Maxentius aside and, in February 307, had himself once more be pronounced Augustus by the people and the senate. Maximian’s first task was to defend the city against Severus. But there wasn’t much defending to do. Under Maximian, the soldiers had fought for almost 20 years, under Severus, not even two. As soon as they saw their former commander, the soldiers defected to him in droves. Severus had to flee from his own army to Ravenna, where he surrendered to Maximian. After this victory, Maximian was entirely in his element. His former power was back within reach. All he needed was an ally, and who would have been a better candidate than Constantine, his old wartime comrade’s son? So, Maximian left business in Rome to his son Maxentius and rushed to Treves. There, the old emperor offered the young man to officially recognize him as Augustus and to adopt him. He should also marry Maximian’s daughter. In return, Maximian hoped to get military support and a clear political positioning against Galerius. But Constantine was much too smart for that. He made Maximian wait, let the statues of Severus – who in the meantime had died anyway – be canted over, and did nothing else which could have been interpreted as explicitly taking sides against Galerius. Maximian returned to Rome without having achieved anything, where he was surprised to find that, by now, the city was in his own son’s hands. For Maxentius had succeeded, all by himself, to prevent Rome from being attacked by an army led by Galerius. Galerius too had lost soldiers who had gone over to serve the son of Maximian. Now Maxentius had the Roman senate give him the title of Augustus and officially took over the rule in the territory of late Severus. The magnificent gold medallion is likely to have been minted in celebration of his accession to power as Augustus. With it, Maxentius underlines that he is willing and able, with the help of Mars and the associated virtues, to defend the old capital Rome against all attacks, as had done all rightful emperors before him. Thus, he positions himself against Galerius, who had tried not only to take privileges away from the Eternal City, but even to lead an army against the old capital. This way, Maxentius claims to be the true defender of the Roman idea. At the same time, he had coins minted for Senior Augustus Maximian and Caesar Constantine. So, Galerius saw an opposing front building up against him which to counter by himself he did not feel strong enough. He had to do something to reinforce his fading influence, and only one person came to his mind: His old supporter Diocletian should once more, with all his authority, mediate between the disputing parties. He did, only nobody listened to his suggested compromise. The fight for the Roman Empire entered the next round.

[King John]

Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD. P. Carisius. Denarius, Emerita circa 25-23 BC, AR 3.87 g. IMP CAESAR AVGVST Bare head l. Rev. P CARISIVS LEG – PRO PR Decorated shield; at sides, spear-head and curved sword. C 401. BMC 279 var. (IRO PR). RIC 2b. CBN 1034.
Struck on an exceptionally large flan and with a light iridescent tone.
Minor area of weakness on obverse, otherwise extremely fine

Estimate: 1750 CHF

[King John]

BITHYNIA, Apamaea. Geta. AD 209-211. Æ 21mm (4.98 g, 12h). Laureate head right / Daphne kneeling right, head left, with hand raised; to left, laurel tree. Unpublished. VF, dark green and brown patina, slight porosity. Extremely rare.
Ex Peus 366 (29 October 2000), lot 548; Münzen und Medaillen FPL 422 (May 1980), lot 146.
The nymph Daphne, the daughter of the local river-god Peneus, attracted the unwelcome advances of Apollo. As he aggressively pursued her, Daphne, wishing to put a stop to his advances, prayed to her father to help her. Peneus transformed her on the spot into a laurel tree (Greek Dafnh). Heartbroken, Apollo declared that this tree would be special to him, and made the laurel his sacred tree.
Estimate: $300

ILLUSTRAZIONE: APOLLO E DAFNE

Dafne, figlia e sacerdotessa di Gea, la Madre Terra e del fiume Peneo (o secondo altri del fiume Lacone), era una giovane ninfa che viveva serena passando il suo tempo a deliziarsi della quiete dei boschi e del piacere della caccia la cui vita fu stravolta a causa del capriccio di due divinità: Apollo ed Eros. Racconta infatti la leggenda che un giorno Apollo, fiero di avere ucciso a colpi di freccia il gigantesco serpente Pitone alla tenera età di quattro giorni, incontra Eros che era intendo a forgiare un nuovo arco e si burlò di lui, del fatto che non avesse mai compiuto delle azioni degne di gloria.

Il dio dell’amore, profondamente ferito dalle parole di Apollo, volò in cima al monte Parnaso e lì preparò la sua vendetta: prese due frecce, una spuntata e di piombo, destinata a respingere l'amore, che lanciò nel cuore di Dafne e un'altra ben acuminata e dorata, destinata a far nascere la passione, che scagliò con violenza nel cuore di Apollo.

Da quel giorno Apollo iniziò a vagare disperatamente per i boschi alla ricerca della ninfa, perchè era talmente grande la passione che ardeva nel suo cuore che ogni minuto lontano da lei era una tremenda sofferenza. Alla fine riuscì a trovarla ma Dafne appena lo vide, scappò impaurita e a nulla valsero le suppliche del dio che gridava il suo amore e le sue origini divine per cercare di impressionare la giovane fanciulla. Dafne, terrorizzata, scappava tra i boschi. Accortasi però che la sua corsa era vana, in quanto Apollo la incalzava sempre più da vicino, invocò la Madre Terra di aiutarla e questa, impietosita dalle richieste della figlia, inziò a rallentare la sua corsa fino a fermarla e contemporaneamente a trasformare il suo corpo: i suoi capelli si mutarono in rami ricchi di foglie; le sue braccia si sollevarono verso il cielo diventando flessibili rami; il suo corpo sinuoso si ricoprì di tenera corteccia; i suoi delicati piedi si tramutarono in robuste radici e il suo delicato volto svaniva tra le fronde dell'albero.

 

[eracle62]

Con il tondello di Geta mi hai colpito al cuore...

Stupendo per carica emotiva e simbolica...

Cosi imparano a dire che non compio gesta...

[King John]

Hess-Divo AG > Auction 334	Auction date: 29 May 2018
Lot number: 99 Price realized: 200 CHF   (Approx. 201 USD / 174 EUR)
Lot description: ROMAN COINS Estimate: COINS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC. C. Piso Frugi. Denarius, 67 BC. AR 3.58 g. Laureate head of Apollo r., behind, symbol: human foot. Rev. C PISO L FRVG Naked youth on horse galloping r., palm branch over l. shoulder; above, control-mark: B Cr. 408/1 and Tab. XLII, 24 (for symbol/control­mark); Syd. 840a. Good style. Extremely fine Provenance: Münzen und Medaillen AG, Basel-Fixed Price List 609 (2004), 51 CHF   illustrazione: Il Fantino di Capo Artemisio (II secolo a.C.) Il cavallo è al galoppo; il giovane fantino è vestito di una tunica corta. Datato intorno al 140 a.C., Periodo ellenistico. (Atene, Museo Archeologico Nazionale).

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 47	Auction date: 28 June 2018
Lot number: 117 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: Sicily, Iaetia Æ Quadrans. Second Punic War issue (?), circa 2nd century BC. Helmeted warrior (Roma?) standing left, wearing mural crown and holding spear and grounded shield; all within dotted border / IAITINΩN in two lines within wreath; all within dotted border. HGC 2, 503. 5.50g, 18mm, 12h.  Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; no examples on CoinArchives.  From the collection of a Scientist.  Estimate: 150 GBP

[eracle62]

Il denarino Repubblicano mi esalta, sia per il dritto che per la raffigurazione equestre sul rovescio.

La scultura mi ricorda i lavori del Messina..

[King John]

Dmitry Markov Coins & Medals | M&M Numismatics Ltd | Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles - The New York Sale XLII, Lot 35

Sicily, Messana. The Mamertinoi. Æ Quincunx (14.30 g), 264-241 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right. rev. MAME[PTINΩN], warrior advancing left, holding forth shield on arm, and spear; in upper left field, four pellets. Särström series XVIII A; BAR 14; CNS 45. Attractive dark greenish-brown patina. Some minor porosity on reverse. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $300 

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 106	Auction date: 9 May 2018
Lot number: 295 Price realized: 30,000 CHF   (Approx. 29,878 USD / 25,202 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Demonikos, 388 – 387. Siglos circa 388-387 BC, AR 10.91 g. Athena standing facing, head l., holding spear in r. hand and shield in l.; in l. field, O (Aramaic ayin). Rev. Dmnks Mlk Lpsh in Aramaic characters Heracles advancing r., wearing lion's skin and holding club in r. hand and bow in l.; in r. field, ankh. Traité II 1221, pl. CXXXI, 12 (Citium). BMC p. xxxix, a and pl. XIX, 9 (Citium). Tziambazis 32 (Citium). ACGC 1095. SNG Copenhagen 23. Of the highest rarity, by far the finest specimen of only four or five known. A very interesting and finely detailed reverse die and with a lovely old cabinet tone, weakly struck on obverse, otherwise good very fine / extremely fine Ex Leu sale 13, 1975, 294. Greek tradition held that the city of Lapethos was founded by Lakonians under the leadership of a certain Praxander, but it actually seems to have been a Phoenician settlement since the eleventh century B.C. The history of the city and its kings in the Classical period is poorly known, but local coinage, which begins the name of King Sidqmelek in ca. 450-435 B.C., provides some names. Demonikos was long believed to have been a Greek king imposed on Phoenician-dominated Citium by Evagoras I of Salamis and the Athenian general, Chabrias, in 388/7 B.C., but recent scholarship now makes him a member of the dynasty of Lapethos. Demonikos has the notable distinction of being the first foreign ruler to whom the Athenian rhetorician Isokrates addressed an oration. In this oration Isokrates advises the young king on the importance of education in becoming a just and good ruler. The types and inscription of this stater give some insight into the reign of Demonikos at Lapethos. The standing figure of Athena seems to advertise his legitimacy in the royal dynasty of the city. The head of the goddess occurs on coins of Lapethos already around 480 B.C. At the same time this type, combined with the king's Greek name, seems to indicate that his regime was propped up by Chabrias and the Athenians. It has been pointed out that the figure of Athena replicates the Pheidian cult statue of Athena in the Parthenon. The Herakles reverse, however, alludes to the Phoenician, and specifically Tyrian, origin of the dynasty of Lapethos. As at Citium, the Herakles type is intended to represent the Tyrian god, Melqart. The Phoenician background of the city and its kings is further underlined by the use of a Phoenician inscription despite the very Greek quality of Demonikos' name. Estimate: 20000 CHF

[King John]

Thrakien
THRAKIEN - Mesembria
Mesembria
Diobol (1,24 g), 450/350. Av.: Helm frontal. Rv.: Wagenrad. SNG.Cop:652f. s.sch.
Estimate: EUR 60

ILLUSTRAZIONE: OPLITI SPARTANI

Modificato 9 Giugno, 2018 da King John

[eracle62]

Dopo un tondello con doppia raffigurazione...

Anche gli altri due degni di nota..

E che tondello e che Eracle....

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 43	Auction date: 3 February 2018
Lot number: 381 Price realized: 4,600 GBP   (Approx. 6,549 USD / 5,252 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Antoninus Pius Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 5 = AD 141/2. [ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ Α]ΔΡ ΑΝΤѠΝΙΝ[ΟС] С[ƐΒ ƐVС], laureate bust right / The Judgement of Paris: on rocks from left to right, Aphrodite standing left; Hera seated left, holding long sceptre; Athena standing left, holding sceptre; in front of them, Hermes holding caduceus and explaining to Paris the task; at the foot of the rock, the herd of Paris; [LƐ] (date) in left field. RPC Online 14831 (temporary); Emmett 1632 var. (Hera standing); Dattari (Savio) 8848. 25.77g, 34mm, 1h. Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare; the first example of the type with Hera depicted seated to be sold since the Jungfleisch example in 1998 (The New York Sale, 1, 1998, lot 175). The story of the judgement of Paris begins at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (the parents of Achilles) to which every god or goddess was invited except Eris, the goddess of discord. In her anger she threw an apple into the gathering upon which it was written 'To The Fairest'. Three goddesses laid claim to the apple, Athena, Hera and Aphrodite, and it was decided that Zeus would choose the winner. Rather than facing the anger of the two not chosen, Zeus instructed Hermes to lead the goddesses to Paris, a prince of Troy who was known for his fairness. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, as a wife (despite her being married already to the Greek Menelaus); Athena offered strength in battle and wisdom; and Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia. Paris chose Aphrodite's gift and thus made himself and Troy enemies of the Greeks and several gods (especially Hera). This animosity culminated in the Trojan War, a ten-year besiegement of Troy by the Greeks which is the central topic of Homer's Iliad. illustrazione: "Il giudizio di Paride" dipinto da Enrique Simonet (1904) Il giudizio di Paride:  Zeus allestì un banchetto per la celebrazione del matrimonio di Peleo e Teti, futuri genitori di Achille. Eris, la dea della discordia, non venne invitata e, irritata per questo oltraggio, raggiunse il luogo del banchetto e gettò una mela d'oro con l'iscrizione "alla più bella". Le tre dee che la pretesero, scatenando litigi furibondi, furono Era, Atena e Afrodite. Esse parlarono con Zeus per convincerlo a scegliere la più bella tra loro, ma il padre degli dèi, non sapendo a chi consegnarla, stabilì che a decidere chi fosse la più bella non potesse essere che il più bello dei mortali, cioè Paride, inconsapevole principe di Troia, il quale era prediletto dal dio Ares. Ermes fu incaricato di portare le tre dee dal giovane troiano, che ancora viveva tra i pastori e conduceva al pascolo le pecore, e ognuna di loro gli promise una ricompensa in cambio della mela: Atena lo avrebbe reso sapiente e imbattibile in guerra, consentendogli di superare ogni guerriero; Era promise ricchezza e poteri immensi, talché a un suo gesto interi popoli si sarebbero sottomessi, e tanta gloria che il suo nome sarebbe riecheggiato fino alle stelle; Afrodite gli avrebbe concesso l'amore della donna più bella del mondo. Paride favorì quest'ultima, scatenando l'ira delle altre due. La dea dell'amore aiutò quindi Paride a rapire Elena, moglie di Menelao, re di Sparta, e il fatto fu la causa scatenante della guerra di Troia.

[King John]

Naville Numismatics Ltd. > Auction 32	Auction date: 18 June 2017
Lot number: 274 Price realized: 6,500 GBP   (Approx. 8,321 USD / 7,429 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Antoninus Pius, 138-161 Drachm circa 141-142 (year 5), Æ 33mm., 21.60g. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Judgement of Paris: to l., Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite standing; at feet of Aphrodite, Eros; to r., Hermes standing, l., foot on rock; above whom, Paris seated, l., offering apple(?); to far r., tree framing scene; in field, LE. RPC Online 15324 (this coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 157, 8845 (this coin) and Pl. XXXIX, 8845 (this rev. Illustrated). Extremely rare and interesting, only four specimens known two in the Dattari collection and two in museums. Dark brown tone, About Very Fine/Very Fine. From the Dattari collection. Judgement of Paris. The Judgement of Paris The judgement of Paris was a very famous contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympus – Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, for the prize of a golden apple inscribed with the words "Let the beautiful one take me" thrown on the table by Eris, the goddess of Discord, during the wedding ceremony of Peleus and Thetis. Each of the three goddesses claimed the apple, and Zeus decided that the argument should be settled by the Trojan prince Paris and asked Hermes to guide him to Mount Ida in order to settle the issue. The three goddesses offered Paris a gift in return for his favourable decision: Hera offered him royal power; Athena offered him victory in war, while Aphrodite offered Helen, the most beautiful woman ever known, as his wife. Taken to Mount Ida for his decision, Paris- lured by his promised marriage with Helen- decided in favour of Aphrodite. As a result, the abduction of Helen lead to the Trojan war and ultimately to the fall of the city.  Starting Price: 800 GBP