Maximianus Herculius augustus, first reign 286 -305
Aureus circa 287, AV 5.06 g. MAXIMIA – NVS PF AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. HERCVLI – VICTORI Hercules seated facing on rocks, head r., with lion's skin on lap; on l., club and on r., bow and quiver. In exergue, P R. C 306 (misdescribed). RIC –. Depeyrot 5B/6. Calicó 4681. Rare. A bold portrait struck in high relief, almost invisible marks, otherwise good extremely fine Ex CNG sale 94, 2013, 1202. The invocation on this coin "to Hercules, the Victor" was appropriate in 287 as Maximian was just starting to overcome the anarchy that had reigned in the West for the previous two years. Not only was Hercules the emperor's patron, but he was renowned for his ability to take on a proverbial 'Herculian task' and emerge victorious. Maximian faced threats so numerous and daunting that people might well have presumed that if he triumphed, it was with the benefit of divine assistance. Hercules is shown as an older, bearded man seated facing upon a rock, looking right, with the skin of the Nemean lion draped over his lap. With his left hand he holds his club, and his bow and arrow-filled quiver are prominently displayed in the right field. The standing figure of Hercules was a universal image and was used on coins from numerous mints over a long period, whereas this powerful image was used only for aurei of Rome in c.287 and aurei of Trier in c.294, when that mint re-opened in anticipation of a new effort to reclaim Britain.