For this labor, Hercules was sent to secure the holy, golden apples of the Hesperides (The Hesperides were Atlas' daughters to whom Hera had entrusted the tree that grew the apples, but they were caught pilfering the apples; Hera thereafter appointed the serpent Ladon as guardian). The apples were secured with the help of Atlas who picked them for Hercules.
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. 138-161 AD. Æ Drachm (23.19 gm, 12h). Labor of Herakles series - Apples of the Hesperides. Dated RY 5 (141/2 AD). [AVT K] T ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ANTWNINO CEY C, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind / Herakles standing right, holding lion's skin and club, plucking an apple from the tree of the Hesperides; coiled body of the dead serpent Ladon around tree; L E (date) to left. Köln -; Dattari -; Milne -; BMC Alexandria -; Emmett 1554/5; Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Group XIII, 4 December 1990), lot 209 (same reverse die).
