Hercules

Hercules was a demigod, meaning he was half-human, half-god. He was a divine hero in Greek and Roman mythology and had a great influence on Greek and Roman culture.

He is frequently depicted wearing the skin of a lion over his head and shoulders, representing his victory over the vicious Nemean Lion who was tormenting the town of Nemea. Legend claims that as punishment for murdering his wife, Hercules was ordered to undertake twelve tasks. His first task was to free the inhabitants of Nemea, Greece from the vicious and impenetrable Nemean Lion. With the help of his Heraclean supernatural powers, Hercules strangled the vicious lion with his bare hands and saved those of Nemea. It is not uncommon for Hercules to also be portrayed holding a gnarled club, which was known to be his weapon of choice when fighting exotic creatures.

Hercules is commonly represented on Roman coins due to the emperor's desire to be connected to a fearless human-god hybrid. Having Hercules depicted on a Roman coin shows that the emperor valued this god, wanted his land to be protected by this god, and wanted the land he was ruling over to be seen as courageous or holding the same characteristics as this god.