Hercules is the latest Demigod to join the high-relief silver coin series from Numiartis

Demigods returns! The two-ounce, high-relief silver coin series from German producer Numiartis first appeared in 2017 with a neat Achilles issue, followed up a year later by an even better Perseus one. It’s been quiet on the demigod-front for the last couple of years, but it’s back, and with the legendary Hercules in tow. Struck by the Mint of Poland, the coin follows a classic format, being rimless, high-relief, and antique finished. It’s popular because it just works, maintaining a balance between affordability and aesthetics, particularly in the mythology genre. We all know who Hercules is, and the choice of ways to depict his many feats is almost limitless, Numiartis have chosen the heroes epic punch-up with the Centaurs.

The scene depicted on the coin is of Hercules fighting a centaur. At a gathering with his Centaur friends Pholus and Chiron, he had opened a bottle of wine gifted to Pholus by the goddess Dionysus. The scent of the wine drove the wild centaurs, led by Nessus, into a frenzy, and they attacked. Hercules fought them off with poisoned arrows, but one hit Chiron, killing him, while Pholus also fell when he accidentally dropped an arrow on his hoof. You have to admire the Greeks for their imagination, although a bar-room punch-up over a spilt pint does sound like my local on a Friday night…

You can see how well the scene is put together when you know the backstory, and the red garnet in the drinking bowl is a great little touch. I have to admit to really liking the chaos in this one. You can almost hear one of his mates shouting out ‘Leave it Herc, it ain’t worth it!’. It abounds with cool little details, like the horse-head tankard, and is full of implied motion.

The coin has a mintage of 650 pieces and comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. It should be available to pre-order shortly. A very cool scene, deftly chosen and realised with great aplomb. Right, where’s my beer gone…

HERCULES

Hercules was married to Megara, the daughter of King Kreo of Thebes, and together they had five children. Unfortunately, the goddess Hera drove Hercules insane in a fit of jealousy and he killed his wife and children.

Driven mad by Hera (queen of the gods), Hercules slew his son, daughter, and wife Megara. After recovering his sanity, Hercules deeply regretted his actions; he was purified by King Thespius, then traveled to Delphi to inquire how he could atone for his actions. Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, advised him to go to Tiryns and serve his cousin King Eurystheus for twelve years, performing whatever labours Eurystheus might set him; in return, he would be rewarded with immortality. Hercules despaired at this, loathing to serve a man whom he knew to be far inferior to himself, yet fearing to oppose his father Zeus. Eventually, he placed himself at Eurystheus’s disposal.

Eurystheus originally ordered Hercules to perform ten labours. Hercules accomplished these tasks, but Eurystheus refused to recognize two: the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra, as Hercules’ nephew and charioteer Iolaus had helped him; and the cleansing of the Augeas, because Hercules accepted payment for the labour. Eurystheus set two more tasks (fetching the Golden Apples of Hesperides and capturing Cerberus), which Hercules also performed, bringing the total number of tasks to twelve.