20070414

Gordian III CE 238-244



AR Denarius, 2.64 g, c. CE 241

RSC 403, S2478, RIC 116

O: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

R: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI Hercules, naked, standing right, resting right hand on club set on rock, lion skin beside club


Ex: Silenos


Said to depict the "Farnese Hercules" a copy of an earlier Greek work, made for the Baths of Caracalla dedicated the year prior to Caracalla's death in CE 217. Below is a photo of the statue. The depiction on the denarius as well as the antoninianus bears a slight resemblance as you will note: