Calabria, Tarentum, AR Diobol, c. 380-325 BC, Vlasto 1254-9, HN Italy 914 (1.00 g, 12 mm)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Amit Vyas, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    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.

    272C0519-FEE6-49B6-BBB0-93D52A1C3C4F.jpeg

    Show your coins depicting the labours of Hercules.
     
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  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Great Diobol, @Amit Vyas ...

    upload_2021-1-19_11-0-26.png
    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
     
  4. Roerbakmix

    Roerbakmix Well-Known Member

  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  6. Parthicus

    Parthicus Well-Known Member

    Herakles slaying the lion also shows up on this 1926 half lek from Albania:
    Albania 1926 half lek.jpg
     
  7. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    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 taras15.jpeg
     
  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I believe there are several poses but the first is most often seen.
    g10170b00090lg.jpg g10180bb1039.jpg
     
    Amit Vyas, zumbly, Bing and 5 others like this.
  9. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    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.

    Poblicius (Hercules & Nemean Lion).jpg
    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.*

    Volteius (Hercules-Boar) jpg version.jpg

    *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.
     
    Theodosius, Amit Vyas, zumbly and 6 others like this.
  10. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Labour #2 - The Lyrnaean Hydra
    Geta - Hadrianopolis Hydra 1944.jpg
    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 - Pontos Herakleopolis Cretan Bull 3081.jpg 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 Cilicia Tarsus Apple Hesperides 2381.jpg
    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.
     
  11. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    temp.jpg
    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.
     
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