Roman Empire: bronze sestertius of Commodus, ca. 177-192 AD A lower grade but relatively larger bronze. 28 mm, 18.58 g. Ex-David Connors, August 2019. In a bit of pop culture trivia that most moviegoing folks will already know, the cruel and megalomaniacal emperor Commodus was portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix (incorrectly beardless) as the villain in the 2000 Ridley Scott film, "Gladiator". One doesn't too often find Roman sestertius coins inexpensively. I found this one for less than ten dollars. It is low grade but has a decent portrait. In hand, the patina looks a bit more dark brown than greenish, as it appears in the photos.
Two thumbs up from me! Nice score! Nice Patina. I don't have a Commodus Sestertius but I do have a large bronze Sestertius of Septimius Severus that I think will fit the occasion. Septimius Severus, Sestertius Rx: Fides holding Victory and a Standard 23.4 grams. 29mm
Here's one of the last sestertii minted under Commodus: Commodus, AD 177-192. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 22.51 g, 29.2 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 192. Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, laureate bust of Commodus, right, with slight drapery on left shoulder. Rev: LIB AVG P M TR P XVII COS VII P P, Libertas standing facing, head left, holding pileus in right hand and vindicta in left hand; S C l. and r., low in field; star, mid right, in field. Refs: RIC 619b; BMCRE 692 var. (bust); Cohen 290; Sear 5764; ERIC II 573 var. (bust).
I don't own a Sestertius of Commodus. However, one of my more recent purchases was a well-circulated Sestertius bearing the image of his father, Marcus Aurelius. Obverse: Reverse: Marcus Aurelius Sestertius 177-178 A.D. Obverse: M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXXII, laureate head right Reverse: IMP VIIII COS III PP SC, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae Rome Mint RIC 1230
I have sort of a Commodus problem - I chase 'em down no matter how ugly. This one is similar to (or same as?) the OP - I say this because of the curule chair, though there are probably others. Commodus Æ Sestertius (190 A.D.) Rome Mint M COMMOD ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT PP, laureate head right / PM TR [P XV IMP] VIII COS VI, Commodus seated left on curule chair, holding branch and sceptre. S-C across fields. RIC 557; Cohen 556; Sear 5786. (23.20 grams / 28 mm) Here's my latest one. It also came in an eBay lot and didn't cost very much. I had some trouble attributing it, but came as close as I could: Commodus Æ Sestertius (189 A.D.) Rome Mint [M] COM[MOD ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT P P], laureate head r. / IO[VI IVV]ENI P M TR P XII[II IMP VIII COS V DES VI] S C: Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt & sceptre, eagle left. RIC III 542. (15.07 grams / 26 x 24 mm) Attribution Note: There are several IOVI IVVENI types from this era: RIC 499: TR P XII RIC 525: TR P XIIII COS VI RIC 542: TR P XIIII COS VI DES Based on other examples, layout of visible reverse legend seems to best match RIC III 542.
Commodus is a great one for portrait and beard: Commodus, 180-192 AD, Æ Sestertius, Struck 190 AD Obv: M COMMOD ANT P F-ELIX AVG BRIT PP, laureate head right Rev: MART PACAT P M TR P XIIII IMP VIII COS V DES VI, S C across field, Mars, helmeted, standing left, holding branch in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand Ref: RIC III Commodus 543
That is an absolutely superb portrait, Sulla80. This is why I like Commodus' coins so much. Despite the "decadence" of his reign, I think the portraiture is among the best of that era. Another nice thing is that you can find him as a beardless kid as well: Commodus Æ Sestertius (177 A.D.) Rome Mint IM[P L A]VREL C[OM]MODVS AV[G GERM SARM], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / [TR P II COS P P S-C], [D]E GERM in exergue, two captives seated at foot of trophy. RIC 1556 (Aurelius). (21.71 grams / 31 x 29 mm)
Here's my one and only Commodus. I like the obverse, the Hercules reverse is of course hopeless. There are denarii and an as where he is depicted as the Roman Hercules, lion skin and all, club on the reverse. I'd love to get my hands on one of them someday. Meanwhile, I'll happily settle for this one. RIC 365.
Here are three sestertii of Commodus; The first has Cybele riding on the back of a lion. She was known to the Romans as Magna Mater, protector of Rome. Often she was portrayed as a Vestal, and referred to as "castissima mater" or purest mother. I believe Vergil mentions that she protected the ships leaving Troy for Italy's shore. I have also posted a Roman lamp c. 1st century AD depicting the same scene with Cybele.
Commodus (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius M COMMODVS ANT [P FELIX] AVG BRIT - laureate head right LIBERAL AVG VI [P M TR P XI IMP VII COS V P P] S C - Commodus seated left on curule chair atop platform, officer standing left behind him, Liberalitas standing left before him, holding abacus and cornucopiae, citizen mounting stepsof platform on left, about to receive largess Mint: Rome (186 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 21.00g / 31mm / - Rarity: Scarce Reference RIC 471a
RIC II, COMMODUS, Sestertius, No. 452 Obverse: Commodus, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT Reverse: Victory (Britannia?) seated right, writing on shield Inscription: S C (left and right) VICT BRIT (exergue)
A young(er) Commodus: Commodus. As Caesar, 166-177 AD. Æ Sestertius. (31mm; 26.52 gm; 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius 175-176 AD. Obv: Bare headed and draped bust right. Rev: SPES PVBLICA - S-C; Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising hem. RIC III 1530 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 344-16/13; Banti 385.
OK OK, I admit it, it's provincial and not a "real" sestertius, but at 30mm and 18.31g it deserves to be in the HEAVY WEIGHT category, doesn't it ? Commodus Ae Cappadocia, Ceasaraea
I feel embarrassed posting this coin after seeing so many large, handsome sestertii, but my humble denarius has a nice portrait . Commodus, AD 177-192 (struck AD 189), Rome Mint. AR Denarius, 18 mm, 11 h. Reverse: Fortuna holding caduceus & cornucopia, foot on ship's prow. RIC 186
"Humble". LOL Have you compared your relatively high grade, certified denarius to the $10 sestertius I opened this thread with?