Silver Denarius of Emperor Hadrian - C.3068 Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 125 AD to 134 AD Collection: Numismatics Style: Roman Medium: Silver Herakles, or Hercules, was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the half brother of Perseus. He was also an Olympic champion and is legendarily associated with twelve labours or tasks (such as slaying the hydra, cleaning the Augean stables etc). His equally impressive sexual prowess with men and women earned him a great following as a cult figure in ancient Greece, a tradition that continued in the Roman Empire. Several emperors chose to link Herakles with themselves, notably Commodus and Maximian. Coinage operates as a propagandist device in all cultures, and particularly during the Roman Empire when the borders were uncertain and internal strife threatened to destabilise the economy. In this sense, Hadrian’s conservative and comparatively peaceful rule was a boon, as it allowed the empire to settle itself. Rome would, in future centuries, suffer greatly from the depredations and neglect by extremely decadent rulers.

Antique Coins
Ancient coins