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Message:: [QUOTE="jb_depew, post: 8278928, member: 88227"]The club of Herakles is a common fixture on the reverse of Roman provincial coins from the city of Caeserea in Cappadocia (present day Kayseri, Turkey). However, it isn't common at all to see the club appropriately paired with the portrait of a megalomaniacal emperor who fancied themself to be Herakles incarnate. The didrachm below came into my collection recently and is extremely rare, with RPC citing just one specimen. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/wiFNSTr.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Cappadocia, Caesarea, Commodus AR didrachmRuled as sole emperor 180-192 AD Struck 180-182 AD (third consulship)Obverse: ΑΥΤO Μ ΑΥΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ ΑΝ ϹƐ; Laureate head of Commodus right.Reverse: VΠΑΤΟϹ Γ ΠΑΤ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟϹ; Club between crescent (on left) and star (on right).References: Metcalf 154b; Sear/GIC 2038; RPC IV.3, 8165 (temporary); G. Hirsch 208, 2158, pl. 21.17.6mm; 3.9g; toned To illustrate how long the club iconography had appeared on Cappadocian issues, here is a drachm of the last king of Cappadocia, Archelaus, dated to 6-7 AD. In AD 17, the city of Caesarea passed under Roman rule and coins struck at the imperial mint from then on featured portraits of Roman emperors and empresses, up to the point it was closed during the reign of Gordian III. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/0vJc1K0.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Kings of Cappadocia, Archelaus, AR drachm36 BC - 17 ADStruck regnal year 42 = 6-7 ADObverse: Diademed head of Archelaus right within filleted border. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΡXEΛAOY ΦIΛOΠATΡIΔOΣ TOY KTIΣTOY; club. M-B (date) across fields.References: RPC I 3606; Simonetta 5; HGC 7, 857.18mm; 3.5gRare Here is a hemidrachm issued under Hadrian showing the club reverse: <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ch44fsS.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Cappadocia, Caesarea, Hadrian, AR hemidrachm117-138 ADStruck regnal year 4 (120-121 AD)Obverse: AVTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CЄBACT; Laureate head right, with slight drapery.Reverse: ЄT Δ (year 4); Club facing downward.References: Metcalf 85; Sydenham 257; RPC III 3072; SNG Copenhagen 223.14mm; 1.56g It's interesting to note that while my Cappadocian didrachm of Commodus featuring the club was struck in 180-182 AD, near the beginning of his sole reign as emperor, it's only in the last years of his rule, with a deteriorating grasp on reality, that Commodus intentionally invoked the symbolism of the lion skin and club on his coinage to connect himself with Herakles. These antics preceded his murder (via strangulation in his bath) by a wrestler named Narcissus. Here is a denarius struck in Rome showing Commodus in the guise of Herakles. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/aqwusJ8.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Commodus AR denarius177-192 ADStruck 191-192 ADObverse: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL; Head of Commodus as Hercules right, wearing lion skin.Reverse: HERCVLI ROMANO AVG; Bow,club and quiver with arrows upright.References: Cohen 195; BMC 343 (these dies); RIC 253.18mm; 3.38g Thanks for looking! Feel free to post Cappadocian coins featuring clubs, or anything else you think is relevant. -Jeremy[/QUOTE]

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