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Drachm
| Issuer | Herakleia (Lucania) |
|---|---|
| Year | 281 BC - 278 BC |
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| Currency | As |
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| Obverse description | Facing bust of Athena, rendered in fine Italiote style, wearing a crested Attic helmet adorned with a griffin or bird at the apex and decorated cheekpieces partially raised. The goddess's flowing hair falls in wavy locks to either side of her face, and she is depicted in a three-quarter facing position typical of South Italian coinage of this period. A small control mark appears to the left in the field. The die work is crisp and of high artistic quality. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An owl, the symbol of Athena, stands facing with wings closed, rendered in high relief with large, expressive circular eyes and detailed feathering across the breast and wings. To the right, a spear or staff is depicted diagonally. An olive branch with leaves appears at the lower right. The ethnic legend ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΩΝ curves along the upper periphery and the magistrate name ΣΩΣΙ appears to the right, both in incuse Greek lettering within the irregular flan. |
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| Additional information |
This issue falls within the final years of Herakleia's civic independence, struck just as Pyrrhos of Epeiros crossed into Italy in 280 BC at the invitation of Tarentum. Herakleia had been a joint Tarentine-Lucanian foundation since 433 BC and remained firmly within Tarentum's political orbit; the city almost certainly contributed troops and materiel to the Pyrrhic coalition that defeated Rome at the battles of Herakleia and Ausculum. Coins struck in this narrow window were likely funding exactly that mobilization.