Calabria, Tarentum, AR Diobol, c. 380-325 BC, Vlasto 1254-9, HN Italy 914 (1.00 g, 12 mm) The first of Hercules' twelve labours, set by his cousin King Eurystheus, was to slay the Nemean lion. While searching for the lion, Hercules fletched some arrows to use against it, not knowing that its golden fur was impenetrable. He discovered the fur's protective property when his arrow bounced harmlessly off the creature's thigh. Hercules then stunned the beast with his club and, using his immense strength, strangled it to death. After slaying the lion, he tried to skin it with a knife from his belt, but failed. He then tried sharpening the knife with a stone and even tried with the stone itself. Finally, Athena, noticing the hero's plight, told Hercules to use one of the lion's own claws to skin the pelt. Hercules used the pelt as his armour. Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp Reverse: Herakles (Hercules) standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; [club to left], K between Herakles' legs. Show your coins depicting the labours of Hercules.
Great Diobol, @Amit Vyas ... Roman Republic C POBLICIUS Q f 80 BCE AR Denarius serratus 3.94g Rome Flan wgt control gouge (Stannard Scoop) Hercules strangling Nemean lion club quiver Cr 380-1 Syd 768
Taras Ar Diobol 380-325 BC Obv Helmeted head of Athena right. Rv Herakles kneeling right strangling lion HN 912 1.28 grms 12mm Photo by W. Hansen
Great coins in this thread! I have two coins depicting labors of Hercules: Roman Republic. C. Poblicius Q.f. AR Serrate Denarius, 80 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right, wearing helmet decorated with grain ears; ROMA behind, V above / Rev. C•POBLICI•Q•F; Hercules standing left, strangling the Nemean Lion; bow and quiver to left, club below, V above lion. Crawford 380/1, RSC I Poblicia 9, Sear RCV I 308 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 5 at pp. 23-27, BMCRR Rome 2896. 20.13 mm., 3.84 g. Roman Republic, Marcus Volteius, AR Denarius, 78 BCE (Crawford) or 75 BCE (Harlan). Obv. Head of young Hercules, wearing lion’s skin headdress, right / The Erymanthian boar running right; M•VOLTEI•M•F in exergue. Crawford 385/2; RSC I Volteia 2; BMCRR 3158, Sear RCV I 313 (ill.); Harlan, RRM I Ch. 12, pp. 62-79 at pp. 74-77, Sydenham 775. 18.5 mm., 3.96 g., 7 h.* *This coin, depicting Hercules and the Erymanthian boar -- one of five coins issued by M. Volteius as moneyer during that year -- relates, like the other four Volteius coins, to one of the five principal agonistic festivals which were celebrated annually at Rome, this one specifically to the Ludi Plebeii, held each year from 4 to 17 November. Hercules had a special relationship with the Circus Flaminius, which was where the Ludi Plebeii were held, and was near the temple of Hercules Magna Custos ad Circum (Hercules the Great Guardian at the Circus). See Harlan at p. 76 for a summary of the legend of Hercules capturing the Erymanthian boar alive, the fourth of the twelve labors of Hercules. Harlan points out that according to tradition, the tusks of the Erymanthian boar were preserved at the sanctuary of Apollo at Cumae -- perhaps establishing a connection of the Erymanthian boar to the Circus Flaminius (where the Ludi Plebeii were held) and the nearby temple of Hercules Magna Custos ad Circum (which was supposedly built on the advice of the Sibyl of Cumae). This may have been the rationale for the portrayal of the Erymanthian boar on this coin rather than one of Hercules’s other labors.
Labour #2 - The Lyrnaean Hydra GETA AE27. 11.72g, 27.6mm. THRACE, Hadrianopolis, circa AD 209-211. Varbanov 3684. O: AVT K Π CEΠTMIOC ΓETAC, laureate, draped bust right. R: AΔPIANOΠOΛITΩN, Hercules standing left with raised club, preparing to open a can of whoopass on the Lernaean Hydra. Labour #7 - The Cretan Bull SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE Tetrassarion. 10.86g, 28.3mm. PONTUS, Sebastopolis-Heracleopolis, dated CY 208 (AD 205/6). Amandry & Remy 17b; Voegtli type 4o. O: AY KAI Λ CЄ-ΠTI [...], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: CEBACTΟΠO H[PAKΛE]-O-ΠO, Hercules wrestling the Cretan Bull, in field, ЄT HC (date). Labour #11 - Apples of the Hesperides GORDIAN III AE34. 20.82g, 34.3mm. CILICIA, Tarsus, circa AD 238-244. SNG France 1667 var. (rev legend); RPC VII.2, - (unassigned; ID 3513). O: AVT KAI M ANTΩNIOC ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; Π – Π in exergue. R: TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛЄΩ / A M - K Γ B, Hercules standing facing, head left, holding club and apples of the Hesperides; tree to left, from which hangs the carcass of the monstrous serpent Ladon.
Constantine I the Great"), A.D. 307-337 Bronze Nummus Ticinum mint, A.D. 307-308 RIC 99 Obv: CONSTANTINVS P F AGV[sic] Rev: VIRTVS PER-PETVA AVG - Hercules, strangling Nemean lion; club behind left leg ST in exergue 26 mm, 7.1 g.