1674 (1983 restrike) France - Garden of Hesperides - Jean Colbert - Dragon

Description

1674  (1983 restrike) France - Jean Baptiste Colbert Minister of Finances of France (Louis XIV) by Joseph Roettiers
Composition: Bronze
Size: 62 mm
Weight: 117 grams
Obverse:  Bust of Jean Baptiste Colbert facing right. (IOAN . BAPT . COLBERT . REGNI . ADMINISTER . REGI . AB . INTIMIS . CONSILIIS . ET . MANDATIS)
Reverse:  The dragon Ladon of the Garden of the Hesperides laying at the foot of the tree of golden apples. (ABSTINET . ET . SERVAT / . 1674)
Edge: Stamped "BRONZE" & "1983" a restrike of the original medal by the French Mint.
Reference: Catalogue General Illustre des Editions de la Monnaie de Paris (French Mint 1977) Volume 1 / B.480
According to Greek mythology, anyone who ate an apple from the tree would become immortal. In another Greek myth, stealing some of the apples was one of the twelve labors bestowed upon Hercules as part of his atonement for killing his wife and children while under a spell cast upon him by the goddess Hera. Hera hated Hercules because he was the offspring from an adulterous affair between her husband Zeus and another woman.