Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus
Reign: Commodus
Mint: Rome
Date: 180 AD
Nominal: Denarius
Material: Silver
Diameter: 18mm
Weight: 2.99g
Reference: Reference: RIC III Commodus 9a
OCRE Online: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.com.9a
Rare: R1
Provenance: Roma Numismatics London, Great Britain (Auction 104, Lot 1005)
Pedigree: –
Obverse: Head of Commodus, laureate, right
Inscription: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG
Translation: Marcus Commodus Antoninus Augustus
Reverse: Trophy middle; to left and right a captive seated on the ground
Inscription: TR P V IMP IIII COS II P P
Translation: Tribunicia Potestate Quinta, Imperator Quartum, Consul Secundum, Pater Patriae
Translation: Holder of tribunician power for the fifth time, Imperator for the fourth time, consul for the second time, father of the nation
Comment: A few days after his father’s death (17 March 180 AD), the high officials and commanders presented the new emperor to the army. Commodus gave a speech to the soldiers and granted them rich gifts of money. For a short time, everything was done according to the advice of the proven ministers, but then Commodus decided, despite the opposition of his brother-in-law Claudius Pompeianus, to break off the war and return home to Rome. Conquered partly by arms, partly by money, the Marcomanni and Quades conceded relatively favourable peace terms, and an honourable peace was also concluded with the Boers. Thereupon the Emperor believed himself entitled to renew the title of Emperor (IMP IIII). He then hurried as quickly as possible to the capital’s pleasures, pompously entering Rome on 22 October 180 AD. It is quite possible that the type of denarius presented here was issued in the context of this event. The reverse shows two prisoners (Marcomanni and Quades?) next to a victory trophy, symbolising the new emperor’s honourable victory over Rome’s enemies.