★ Herakles and the cattle of Geryon ★

Antoninus Pius AR Drachm, Herakles and the oxen of Geryon reverse

Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD). AE Drachm (32 mm, 21.95 g), Alexandria, Egypt, 146-147 AD.
Obv. ΑΥΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC CΕΒ ΕΥC, laureate head right.
Rev. L ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ, Herakles standing left, holding the two oxen of Geryon with right hand, club and lion-skin over left arm; at his feet, body of Geryon.
RPC online temp. 13595 (same reverse die); Köln 1542.

Extremely rare. Fine.

The reverse shows Herakles capturing the cattle of Geryon, his tenth labour which lead him to Erytheia. After he killed the herdsman Eurytion and the two-headed watchdog Orthrus with his club, Geryon, armed with three helmets, three shields and three spears, attacked Herakles but was shot dead by the hero with an arrow he had poisoned with the blood of the Lernaean Hydra.