★ The tragic love-story of Hero and Leander ★

TROAS. Abydus. Severus Alexander, 222-235. Pentassarion (Bronze, 32 mm, 21.53 g, 7 h), bilingual issue. [IMP CI] M VIP SEV ALEXANDRO AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΑΒΥΔΗ-ΝΩ/Ν Leander swimming right through the Hellespont toward Hero standing on top of a tall tower, holding burning oil lamp in her right hand; to left, Leander's cloak, armor and weapons lying on a rock; above, Eros flying right, holding torch in both hands. SNG von Aulock 7543 ( same dies ). Extremely rare, one of a very few known examples of this lovable issue. Minor deposits and very slightly smoothed, otherwise, very fine.

The tragic love-story between Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite from Sestos on the European side of the Hellespont, and Leander, a young man from Abydos on the opposite side of the strait, is one of the most popular Greek myths of all time. Leander's parents were against the relationship, but he would cross the dangerous narrows every night to visit his beloved, who would guide him through the night by lighting an oil lamp on a tall tower near the shore. One stormy night, however, the wind blew out Hero's light and Leander lost his way and drowned. When Hero realized her lover had died, she threw herself from the tower in despair.