Commodus, 177-192. As (Copper, 25 mm, 9.84 g, 12 h), Rome, 192. L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL Head of Commodus to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. HERCVL / ROMAN / AVGV / S C Large club in center; all within wreath. BMC 722. Cohen 193. RIC 644. A beautiful piece with exceptional details on the lion skin. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, good very fine.



Commodus reigned for three years alongside his father, Marcus Aurelius, before becoming the sole ruler of Rome upon his father's death in 180. Unlike his predecessors, who were constantly engaged in warfare against external enemies, his reign was relatively peaceful. The emperor showed little interest in governance, delegating the day-to-day affairs of the empire to his palace chamberlain and two praetorian prefects. Commodus preferred the luxurious life at court and increasingly retreated into a fantasy world in which he imagined himself as the embodiment of the hero Hercules. This is evidenced by a sestertius depicting him wearing the skin of the Nemean lion, with the reverse displaying Hercules’ club, bow, and quiver.

Commodus even took part in gladiatorial bouts - perhaps in the guise of Hercules - but carefully avoided any real danger by wielding only a wooden sword, which earned him ridicule behind his back. He also renamed the months after himself and styled himself as the re-founder of Rome, which he renamed Colonia Aeterna Felix Commodiana Roma. Although the exact circumstances of his assassination on 31 December 192 AD remain unclear, his increasingly erratic behavior undoubtedly contributed to it. Commodus was briefly subjected to damnatio memoriae (condemnation of memory), but for political reasons, his memory was soon rehabilitated by Pertinax, Didius Julianus, and Septimius Severus.