Hadrian AV aureus Hercules on reverse

Emperor Hadrian was a great admirer of Hercules, the mythological Greek figure symbolizing strength and virtue. Hadrian saw Hercules as a model of the ideal emperor, combining physical power and wisdom. He commissioned numerous statues and temples dedicated to Hercules throughout the Roman Empire, particularly in Tivoli, where his villa was located. This connection was also a way for Hadrian to legitimize himself as emperor by associating with a recognized heroic and divine figure