Commodus - denarius Commodus as Hercules! (O2538)

Commodus, 177-192. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 2.46 g, 6 h), Rome, 191-192. L AEL AVREL CO[MM] AVG P FEL Head of Commodus to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. HER - CVL / RO - MAN / AV - GV Club; all within wreath. BMC 339. Cohen 190. RIC 251

During the latter part of his reign, Commodus began associating himself with Hercules. While the Antonine emperors had traditionally associated themselves with the divine hero, Commodus appropriated the iconography more aggressively by wearing a lion skin and carrying a club, both main attributes of Hercules, and having statues of himself dressed as the god erected throughout the empire