Commodus AD 177-192. Rome
Denarius AR

18 mm, 2,69 g

M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right / VOT SOL DEC P M TR P XII IMP VIII, Commodus standing facing, togate and veiled with head to left, holding roll and patera over tripod altar with slain sacrificial bull behind; COS V [P P] in exergue.

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RIC III 161; BMCRE 229; RSC 1001.

Commodus, also known as Lucius Aurelius Commodus, was a Roman emperor who ruled from AD 177 to 192. He was the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and became co-emperor with his father in AD 177 before succeeding him as the sole ruler upon Marcus Aurelius' death in AD 180. Commodus' reign was marked by extravagance, mismanagement, and authoritarian rule. He is famously depicted as a cruel and erratic ruler in historical accounts, including the film "Gladiator," where he is portrayed as a power-hungry and unstable emperor. During his rule, Commodus indulged in lavish spending, engaged in gladiatorial combats, and saw himself as a god-like figure. His autocratic and erratic behavior led to unrest and dissatisfaction among the Roman people, and his reign ultimately ended with assassination in AD 192. Commodus' tumultuous rule remains a significant and intriguing part of Roman history, and his actions had lasting consequences for the Roman Empire.