Lucius Aurelius Commodus Caesar Augusti Filius
Reign: Marcus Aurelius
Mint: Rome
Date: 175/176 AD
Nominal: Denarius
Material: Silver
Diameter: 20mm
Weight: 3.19g
Reference: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 616
OCRE Online: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.m_aur.616
Rare: R2
Provenance: Roma Numismatics London, Great Britain (Auction 104, Lot 1004)
Pedigree: –
Special: Rare bust type
Obverse: Bust of Commodus, bare-headed, draped, right
Inscription: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM
Translation: Commodo Caesar Augusti Filius Germanicus Sarmaticus
Translation: Of Commodus, Caesar, son of the Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, conqueror of the Sarmatians
Reverse: Commodus, standing left, holding branch in right hand and sceptre in left hand; on right, trophy with arms at base
Inscription: PRINC IVVENT
Translation: Principes Juventutis
Translation: Prince of the youth
Comment: On 25 January 175 AD, in his 14th year, Commodus was admitted to all the colleges of priests. In inscriptions he is now called Commodus Caesar Augustus Filius Pontifex. He was also appointed princeps iuventutis. In the spring of 175 AD, Commodus, like his father, assumed the victorious title of Sarmaticus, which he henceforth also used in his name (he had already held the victorious title of Germanicus since 172 AD). On 27 November 176 AD, soon after his return to Rome, probably on the same day that the Emperor Marcus Aurelius triumphed, Commodus was elevated by his father to the position of Imperator and co-ruler. The minting and issue of this denarius type may therefore have taken place between spring 175 AD and the end of 176 AD, before his elevation.
The portrait type shown here is rare (Bust type like RIC III 615 (aureus), without cuirassed like RIC III 616).