TYPE Ancient Greece, Taras (Tarentum), Calabria (302-228 BC), silver diobol, 0.92g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Head of Athena to left in crested helmet decorated with Skylla hurling stone Rev: Infant Herakles squatting sideways facing, fighting to strangle a serpent entwined around each arm, M to bottom left, TA top left, thunderblot in ex. REFERENCE: Vla 1457 (plate coin; obv. by error illustr. in Vla 1456) GRADING: VF, some porosity, rare ORDER INFO: G1938, $215 A celebrated and scarce design (as well as a pedigreed specimen), showing the very first accomplishment of baby Herakles, long before any formal labors or other adventures. Having successfully defeated the two serpents sent by a jealous Hera to his crib, he set the stage for an illustrious career, combining strength with wits to navigate the treacherous waters of ancient gods and men. (And godesses and women, to be sure, as this very episode shows, as well as the final one that got him off the mortal world, inadvertently involving the beautiful Deianira.) Miniature but dynamic scene, characteristic of Herakles-related art on Tarentine fractions. The same design was symbolically used by several alliance cities of western Asia Minor, in a struggle against an unnamed oppressor.