*Props to @Mat, who had a similar thread five years ago. On this day, 31 August, AD 161, Faustina II gave birth to twin boys, Lucius Aurelius Commodus and Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus. The event was commemorated on these coins of Faustina II. The first type depicts the baby boys seated on a pulvinar, a cushioned couch kept in readiness so if any god should visit, s/he will have a place to sit: Faustina Junior, Augusta AD 147-176. Roman AR denarius, 3.22 g, 17.0 mm, 12:00. Rome, AD 161. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT, Throne, upon which are seated two infant boys, Commodus and Antoninus. Refs: RIC 711; BMCRE 136; Cohen 191; RCV 5260 var. (no diadem); CRE 221; Dinsdale 005590. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.65 g, 30.4 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 161. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT SC, draped throne on which there are two infant boys with stars above their heads. Refs: RIC 1665; BMCRE 936; Cohen 193; RCV 5282; MIR 27. A second type features all six of Faustina's children who were alive in AD 161: Faustina III, Lucilla, Fadilla and Cornificia standing at her feet and the twins Commodus and Antoninus in her arms! Faustina Jr, Augusta 147-176. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.99 g, 31.7 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 161. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: TEMPOR FELIC SC, Faustina standing left, holding two children, four more at her feet. Refs: RIC 1673; Cohen 222; RCV 5284 var. (no stephane). Faustina Jr, Augusta 147-176. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.55 g, 28.2 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 161. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: TEMPOR FELIC SC, Faustina standing left, holding two children, four more at her feet. Refs: RIC 1675; Cohen 223; BMCRE 996; RCV 5304 var. (no stephane). Commodus' twin died before the age of four or five, for in AD 166, it was a younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus (born toward the end of 162), who became Caesar with Commodus. M. Annius Verus was still alive at the time of Lucilla's marriage to Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus in AD 168 or 169. Commodus was ... well ... not exactly on Gibbon's list of "good emperors." He was assassinated on 31 December, 192. You've seen a coin from his infancy. Here's a coin from the last year of his life: 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; RCV 5764; ERIC II 573 var. (bust). Post your coins of Commodus or anything you feel is relevant!
Arguably not the best day for the Roman Empire... Here are a young as well as an older sestertius of Commodus: Commodus, Roman Empire, sestertius, 177 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP L AVREL COMMODVS AVG [GERM] SARM; laureate and draped bust of Commodus r. Rev: T[R P] II COS [P]P; pile of Germanic arms; in fields, S-C; in exergue, DE GERMANIS. 31mm, 21.84g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1570. Commodus, Roman Empire, sestertius, 183 AD, Rome mint. Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG PIVS; laureate head of Commodus r. Rev: P VIII [IMP VI] COS IIII P P; Roma, helmeted, draped, seated l. on shield, holding Victory in extended r. hand and vertical spear in l. hand; in fields, S-C. 30mm, 25.14g. Ref: RIC III Commodus 369.
Commodus M COMM ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, Commodus standing left, sacrificing from patera over the lighted altar. On a side note, the rev of this coin looks like Commodus playing Cricket in front of the stump A holed Commodus, with walking Victory, a couple of reasons why I bought this, it was cheap, and also for the hole (the stories it could tell!)
Here’s my newest Commodus, a provincial from his last year: Commodus, Cappadocia, Caesaraea-Eusebia, 192 A.D (regnal year 13), (AE 26.5 mm, 13.94 g), Α Κ Μ ΑY ΚΟΜΟΔΟC ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC Laureate head of Commodus r./ Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠ ΚΑΙCΑΡE / EΤ/ ΓΙ Altar surmounted by sacred image of Mount Argaios. RPC Online 6889
Respect for Faustina, giving birth to so many children...! Here are my coins of Commodus: Sophisticated: Totally nuts:
Mint of Alexandria, Egypt. Commodus (180-192. A.D.) Type: Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm, 11.06 grams Obverse: M AVΡ KOMMO ANTΩNINOC CE, Laureate bust of Commodus right Reverse: VΠAT OCTOΔ, Zeus seated left, holding scepter and thunderbolt, K theta in field Reference: Emmett 2567
Happy birthday, lil' fella! AE As, Struck 175-176 AD, Rome Mint References: RIC III 1539 Size: 26mm, 10.5g AE Sestertius, Struck 179-180 AD, Rome Mint References: RIC III 291f Size: 31mm, 27g AE Sestertius, Struck 184 AD, Rome mint References: RIC III 441c Size: 30mm, 20.0 g AE Sestertius, Struck 186 AD, Rome mint References: RIC III 471 Size: 29mm, 20.7g AE Sestertius, Struck 188-189 AD, Rome mint References: RIC 111 528 Size: 32mm, 29.0g
Commodus' last year coin: Commodus Denarius Libertas Silver, 17 mm, 3.32 gm, Catalog: RIC 241 Struck: AD 192 Rome Obverse: Laureate head right L AEL AVREL CO-MM AVG P FEL Reverse: Libertas standing front, holding felt cap and rod LIB AVG PM TRP XVII COS VII PP
The strong, yet unfortunate women who had to deal with such an ego... Faustina II, Wife of Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius, Struck 161-176 AD, Rome mint Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bust of Faustina II, draped, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, down cheek, curls, right. Reverse: FECVND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas, draped, standing left, between two children and holding two infants in her arms, S-C across field. References: RIC III 1635 Size: 34mm, 24.2g Lucilla, Wife of Verus, Daughter of Aurelius AE Sestertius, Struck 164-169 AD, Rome Obverse: LVCILLA AVGVSTA, Bust of Lucilla, hair waved and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, draped, right. Reverse: FECVNDITAS, Lucilla as Fecunditas, draped, seated right on low seat, nursing infant; before her, a girl standing; behind her, a boy standing; SC in exergue. References: RIC III 1738 Size: 32mm, 24.4g Crispina, Wife of Commodus (178-182 AD) AE Sestertius, Struck 180-182 AD, Rome mint Obverse: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. Reverse: LAETITIA, Laetitia standing facing, head left, holding wreath in right hand and rudder set on globe in left hand; S-C across field. References: RIC III 669 (Commodus) Size: 30mm, 24g
Happy Birthday to the Roman Hercules! COMMODUS AE As. 10.7g, 24.5mm. Rome mint, AD 192. RIC 644; Cohen 193. O: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, head of Commodus as Hercules right, wearing lion skin. R: HER-CVL/RO-MAN/AV-GV/S-C in four lines flanking club; all within laurel wreath. Ex Dr. Walter Neussel Collection (acquired from Dr. Busso Peus, 1958) COMMODUS AR Denarius. 3.33g, 18mm. Rome mint, Autumn - Dec AD 177. RIC (Marcus Aurelius) 646; Cohen 270. O: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: IVNONI SISPITAE TR P II IMP II COS P P, Juno Sospita, advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding shield in left; in front, snake. Notes: Commemorating the birthplace of Commodus, the city of Lanuvium, where Juno Sospita was patron goddess.
Roman Egypt, Alexandria. Commodus, AD 177-192. Billon Tetradrachm (22mm, 12.13g, 12h). Dated RY 30 (AD 189/190). Obv: [M] A KOM ANTW CЄB ЄYCЄB; Laureate head of Commodus right. Rev: Eagle with wings displayed standing right on thunderbolt; L-Λ (date) in right field. Ref: Köln 2245; Dattari 3905; K&G 41.119; Emmett 2523.30. Ex CNG.
My favorite Commodus denarius has to be the one from the Alexandria mint. One theory is that they were struck in preparation for an announced Imperial visit but Commodus died before it happened. Once, these were rare but a few more have shown up. The McAlee coin (CNG 475, lot54) was much nicer than mine but only brought $250. Someone got a bargain, IMHO.
Only have one .... Commodus Denarius (light weight) RIC#126 Commodus AR Denarius.Rome mint 186 AD 1.87gr 17mm Obverse-M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head righ Reverse- P M TR P XI IMP VII COS V PP, Concordia standing front, head left, holding standard in each hand.CONC MIL (below)
