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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2920592, member: 57495&quot;]History has seen many try to invest themselves with the attributes of the ultimate demigod-hero, Hercules, amongst them Alexander the Great and the Roman emperors Trajan and Maximianus.&nbsp; More recently, the likes of The Rock, Kellan Lutz,&nbsp; ̶K̶h̶a̶l̶ ̶D̶r̶o̶g̶o̶&nbsp; ̶A̶q̶u̶a̶m̶a̶n̶ Jason Momoa and even the immortal Kevin Sorbo have all failed to adequately occupy the legendary lion-skin and loinskin. </p><p><br /></p><p>By far the worst Hercules impersonator in history, however, has to be Commodus, Marcus Aurelius&#039;s goofy, demented son.&nbsp; I suppose, at the same time, he could also be considered the best, because he actually thought he WAS Hercules.&nbsp; Commodus adopted the name Hercules, had numerous statues of himself dressed as the demigod displayed publicly, and even performed in the gladiatorial arena wearing a lionskin and wielding a club. </p><p><br /></p><p>Commodus also struck a series of coins with his portrait wearing a lionskin headdress à la Hercules, and I&#039;ve always considered these to be the quintessential Commodus coins.&nbsp; I&#039;ve spent a few years looking for a decent example which wouldn&#039;t break the bank, and finally scored this As with the Club of Hercules reverse.&nbsp; It&#039;s a little rough (as many of these are), but to my eyes it&#039;s still a beauty and checks my box for the type satisfyingly.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please share &#039;em if you&#039;ve got &#039;em!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]707090[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>COMMODUS</b></p><p>AE As. 10.7g, 24.5mm. Rome mint, AD 192. RIC 644; Cohen 193. O: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, head of Commodus as Hercules right, wearing lion skin. R: HER-CVL/RO-MAN/AV-GV/S-C in four lines flanking club; all within laurel wreath.</p><p><i>Ex Dr. Walter Neussel Collection (acquired from Peus, 1958)</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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