Commodus
Imperator Caesar Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Augustus
Commodus (reigned 177 to 192 AD, sole emperor from 180) was the son of Marcus Aurelius. His later coinage from the Rome mint depicts him with the lionskin and club of Hercules; the HERCVLI ROMANO AVG and HERC ROM CONDITORI types are among the most distinctive in the Roman series. Standard catalog: RIC III (Mattingly and Sydenham).
The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus abandoned his father's frontier wars and devoted himself to the arena, performing as a gladiator and identifying himself with Hercules. His erratic rule and megalomania led to his assassination on New Year's Eve 192 AD, plunging the empire into civil war.
Commodus's reign marks the end of the Pax Romana and the beginning of the empire's long decline. His murder triggered the Year of the Five Emperors and the rise of the Severan dynasty, ending the era of adoptive succession that had produced Rome's most capable rulers.
Key Events
Coinage
Commodus's coinage reflects his increasing megalomania, with later types depicting him as Hercules with lionskin and club. The early issues are conventional, but the later portrait types showing the Herculean attributes are among the most distinctive in the Roman series.
Denominations
Notable Types
- Hercules types with lionskin and club
- Gladiatorial types
- LIB AVG types celebrating his liberalitas
Common Reverses
Active Mints
Related Resources
Further Reading
- Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume III,
- The Twelve Caesars,