This coin has been in my collection for a few months, but until now, I had no time to study it. It's a neat coin, with a nice even green patina and enough details. GREECE, Anonymous. Denomination: AE unit, minted: Southern Lucania, Herakleia; 300-100 BC Obv: Helmeted head of Athena to the right Rev: |-HΡAKΛEIΩN, Herakles standing left, lion’s skin on left arm and club on left shoulder Weight: 4.32g; Ø:17mm. Catalogue: any suggestions are welcome. Provenance: acq. 06-2020 Looking at these photos, I noticed something behind Athena's head: I wasn't able to find my coin in ACsearch or Sixbid (search query: lucania hera* athena standing -nomos -stater -didrachm -diobol -drachm). There were about 20-30 bronze coins, all smaller (around 12 mm) and lighter (around 2 gram). None of these had a similar 'thing' behind Athena's head. So: any suggestions? Also, suggestions to pinpoint a catalogue reference is welcome!
Here is your coin: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4470776 and another previous sale https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2588589. Here is one with the item behind the helmet easier to see https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3306562 - Broucheion
Thank you @Broucheion. There is a difference in weight and diameter (your references: 12-13mm, c. 2 gram, my coin 17mm and 4.32g). Is it indeed the same coin?
Nice coin! It is HGC 1, 1013 (R2) as "Denomination C (14-18 mm, 5-8.5g)" : "Obv. Head of Athena in Attic helmet r. PELTE to l. (if any). Rev. |-HΡAKΛEIΩN. Herakles standing l., holding phiale and club. Struck c. 280-150 BC." Yours is nicer than the British Museum example. The ones linked by Broucheion are listed in HGC as "Denomination D (11-15mm, 1.95-3.0g)".
Thank you @zumbly. The rarity (R2) probably explains why I can't find a similar example in ACsearch and Sixbid. So what is a Pelte?
