Postumus. Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 260-269. Denarius (19mm, 2.60 g, 12h). Trier mint. 8th emission, circa early-circa mid AD 268. POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate head of Postumus left, jugate with the head of Hercules / HERCVLI ROM, Hercules, nude, seen from behind, head left, holding club (whose tip is resting on the ground) in right hand, lion skin over left arm, facing the tree of the Hesperides; at left, three Hesperides, draped, fleeing to the left. RIC V.4 380/3 (this coin cited); Schulte 149c (this coin cited); RSC 135 var. (busts right). Darkly toned, light porosity, flan crack. VF. Very rare. This coin shares an obverse die with the following aurei: (RIC V.4 352/1, 361/1, and 366/1).
Ex Jacquier 42 (16 September 2016), lot 584 (hammer €16,000); Dr. Theodor Voltz Collection (Münzen und Medaillen AG 81, 18 September 1995), lot 313.
Because he had been assisted in completing some of his earlier tasks, Hercules was compelled to undergo two more labors. The first of these, labor eleven, was to steal the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, nymphs who lived in a grove at the far western edge of the world. Hercules tricked the Titan Atlas, whose task it was to hold up the heavens, to retrieve the apples in return for holding up the heavens while he did so. Having accomplished the task, Atlas was reticent to give up his freedom, and told Hercules that he would take back the apples to Mycenae. Once again, Hercules tricked the Titan, requesting that Atlas hold the heavens, while Hercules adjusted his cloak to be more comfortable.
On the reverse of this coin the legend HERCVLI ROM, “To the Roman Hercules”: Hercules stands by the tree laden with the golden apples of the Hesperides, nymphs who were known as daughters of the evening, three of whom stand near him.
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