Happy birthday, Commodus!

Roman Collector · August 31

Happy birthday, Commodus, who was born 31 August 161 CE.

Marble and alabaster bust of Commodus, c. 191-192. Vatican Museum (musée Pio Clementino).

These two coins celebrate the birth of Commodus and his (slightly) older twin brother, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, who would have become emperor had he not died in 166 CE at the age of four or five.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.10 g, 17.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, after 31 August 161 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: TEMPOR FELIC, female figure, standing left, holding an infant in each arm; at either side, two children standing.
Refs: RIC 719; BMC 156-157; RSC 221; RCV 5263; CRE 179; MIR 31-4/10a.
Note: The coin well illustrates the "all-round legends" as used December 160 - 163.

Faustina II, 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.65 g, 30.4 mm, 12 h.
Rome, after 31 August 161 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust, right, wearing stephane.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT SC, draped throne on which there are two infant boys, Antoninus and Commodus, with stars above their heads.
Refs: RIC 1665n; BMCRE 939, 941; Cohen 193; RCV –; MIR27-6/10a, b Diad.

And here's Commodus as an adult.

Commodus, 177-192 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.42 g, 18 mm, 12 h.
Rome, 180 CE.
Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: LIB AVG TR P V IMP IIII COS II P P, Liberalitas standing left, holding tessera and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 10a; Cohen 301; BMC 4.

Post your coins of Commodus!!!

Edited September 6 by Roman Collector
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MrMonkeySwag96 · August 31

Ancient Coin Hunter · August 31

Happy Birthday to the Bad Boy. In the 1964 film "Fall of the Roman Empire" with Alec Guiness as Marcus and Sophia Lauren as Lucilla and a schizophrenic Commodus played by Christopher Plummer, he did remark, before dying in the arena against a Maximus-type character, "If you listen carefully, you can hear the gods laughing."

Tetradrachm of Alexandria

Commodus (180-192. A.D.) 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: It appears closest to Milne 2637, however, that type has Zeus holding Nike and not a thunderbolt according to Wildwinds

Edited August 31 by Ancient Coin Hunter

ominus1 · August 31

..you'll forgive me if i don't jump for joy on this dubious occasion...:Pi have the mandatory 'one coin of each' for his lot......but i also have a couple of coins he minted for dear old dad...:)

Edited August 31 by ominus1

Jims,Coins · August 31

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for FAUSTINA Jr., Wife of MARCUS AURELIUS, between 161 - 175 A.D. Obv. FAVSTINA.AVGVSTA.: More or less gently waved hair pulled back into a low chignon, the front part of the hairstyle is severely waved to frame the face. This hairstyle almost always is adorned with one or two strands of pearls or a stephane worn behind the waves framing the face. Type 2b. Rev. FECVNDITAS.: Fecunditas standing front, head r., holding sceptre and child. RCS #1495. RSCII #99c pg.223. RICIII #M677 pg.269. DVM #13.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted during the reign of COMMODUS in 181 A.D. Obv. M.COMMODVS.ANTONINVS.AVG.: laur. hd. r. Rev. LIB.AVG.IIII.TR.P.VI.IMP.IIII.COS.III.P.P.: Liberalitas stg. front, head l., holding abacus and cornucopia. (refers to the fourth donative, of 181 A.D., at the end of the fifth year of his reign, as reckoned by the assumption of Tribunician powers). RSCII #307 pg.240. RICIII #22 pg.368. DVM #38.

this is a coin when he was an infant and in 181 A.D.

Ryro · August 31

Here's the little twerp as Caesar:

And Augustus:

expat · August 31

Commodus, AR Denarius, 187-188 AD. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right / P M TR P XIII IMP VIII COS V P P, Hercules naked, standing front, holding patera and club. RSC 534; RIC 162. 17 mm, 2,91 g

Coinmaster · August 31

Thanks for sharing!

A nice denarius of Commodus is on my wish list for quite some time now. Somehow there don't seem a lot of coins to exist from Commodus that meet my 'requirements': a sharp and attractive portret + all legends good visible/readable. I wonder why that is. Nice coins from - for example - Lucius Verus are much more available.

CPK · August 31

21 minutes ago, Coinmaster said:

Thanks for sharing!

A nice denarius of Commodus is on my wish list for quite some time now. Somehow there don't seem a lot of coins to exist from Commodus that meet my 'requirements': a sharp and attractive portret + all legends good visible/readable. I wonder why that is. Nice coins from - for example - Lucius Verus are much more available.

Exactly. I'm in the same boat! Been on the lookout for awhile but quality control seems to have dropped sharply towards the end of Marcus Aurelius' reign.

Here's my only coin of the Birthday Boy:

COMMODUS, AD 180-192
AE As (24.84mm, 7.59g, 11h)
Struck AD 185. Rome mint
Obverse: M COMM ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head of Commodus right
Reverse: VOT SVSC DEC P M TR P X IMP VII, Commodus, togate, standing left, sacrificing over tripod-altar; COS IIII P P in exergue, S C across fields
References: RIC - , BMC 566, RCV 5897 (this coin illustrated)
This coin illustrated on wildwinds.com. From the Jeff Clark VOTA Collection.
An extremely rare type, with a fine portrait and rich emerald patina. This coin is the illustrated plate coin in David R. Sear's popular reference series Roman Coins and Their Values (Vol. II, p. 411)

shanxi · August 31

A denarius and a provincial coin:

Commodus
Denar, Rome
Obv.: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM, draped bust right from behind
Rev.: PRINC IVVENT, Commodus standing, head left, holding branch, reversed spear in left, trophy with shield.
Ag, 3.21g, 18x19mm
Ref.: RIC III M. Aurelius 616, RSC 609, Kamp. 41.14.

Lydia. Hierocaesaraea
Commodus
Bronze, Æ 31
Obv: AVT KAI Λ AVPH KOMMOΔOC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: ЄΠ AI APTЄMIΔOPOV APX IЄPOKAICAPЄΩN, Tetrastyle temple, with pellet in pediment and containing Artemis standing right, drawing bow; behind, stag standing right
RPC IV.2, 11398 (temporary) [this coin]; GRPC Lydia 104 (this coin)
Ex Numismatik Naumann, auction 52, Lot 1030

LONGINUS · August 31

Great post, Roman Collector !

Alegandron · September 1

RI

Crispina

Married Commodus AD 177;

AR denarius, 2.29gm,

Draped bust right /

Juno standing left,

Fine, old cabinet toning.

RIC-283.

Ex: Mount Angel Abbey Collection.

Ex: Wayne Sayles

COMMODUS

RI Commodus 177-192 CE AR Denarius laureate hd and Hercules and Africa

Octavius · September 1

Happy birthday to the giraffe killer.

a few sestertii to commemorate , ( my favorite is the first with reverse of Cybele riding on a lion).

Also , a denarius of Commodus celebrating his megamoniacal association with Hercules...

Alegandron · September 1

Mammy & Pappy:

FAUSTINA II / Jr

RI
Faustina Jr 161-175 CE
Ar Denarius 17mm 3g
Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius and daughter of Antoninus Pius, struck under Antoninus Pius.
FAVSTINA – AVGVST Draped bust of Faustina right
AVGVSTI – PII FIL Spes standing left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Ex: @Brian Bucklan

Aurelius

RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard

Prieure de Sion · September 2

On 8/31/2024 at 5:14 PM, Roman Collector said:

Post your coins of Commodus!!!

Let me honor, first with a imperial, second with a provincial bronze coin... 😉

Lucius Aurelius Commodus Caesar Augusti Filius
Reign: Marcus Aurelius
Mint: Rome
Date: 177 AD
Nominal: Sestertius
Material: AE Bronze
Diameter: 33mm
Weight: 27.43g

Reference: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1564 var. (only laureate)
Reference: Banti 410 (“A. Hess 1933“)
Reference: MIR 382-16/30 (“Schulman, Amsterdam, Juni 1924, 862”, same picture as Banti/Hess)
OCRE Online: http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.m_aur.1564
Schulmann Online #1: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k30434764/f70.item
Schulmann Online #2: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k30434764/f127.item
Rare: R3
Provenance: Carthago Numismatics Ile de France, France
Pedigree: –
Special: 2nd known example, Variation only laureate

Obverse: Head of Commodus, laureate, right
Inscription: IMP CAES L AVREL COMMODVS GERM SARM
Translation: Imperator, Caesar, Lucius Aurelius Commodus, Germanicus, Sarmaticus
Translation: Imperator, Caesar, Lucius Aurelius Commodus, conqueror of the Germans, conqueror of the Sarmatians

Reverse: Commodus, in quadriga, moving left, holding eagle-tipped sceptre in right hand
Inscription: TR P II COS S C
Translation: Tribunicia Potestate Secunda, Consul, Senatus Consultum
Translation: Holder of tribunician power for the second time, consul. Decree of the senate

Comment: This generally rare quadriga sestertius type (RIC 1563, RIC 1564, Cohen 749) was minted and issued only over a very short period. The second “Tribunicia Potestate” was awarded to Commodus on 10 December 176 AD, he took up the first consulship together with M. Plautius Quintillus on 01 January 177 AD. This is the earliest possible date of issue. In the middle of 177 AD Commodus received the title Augustus and pater patriae and was thus elevated to the equal co-emperor of his father. From this time onwards Commodus now called himself on coins L. Commodus Aug. cos. p. p. (Cohen 63. 66. 67) or L. Aurelius. Commodus Aug. cos. p. p. (Cohen 65. 68. 743) or Imp. L. Aurelius. Commodus Aug. Germ. Sarm. tr. p. II cos. p. p. (Cohen 79. 80. 83-90. 95. 96. 98-102. 744-748) or finally Imp. Caes. L. Aurelius. Commodus Aug. Germ. Sarm. tr. p. II cos. p. p. (Cohen 91). The short minting period of this sestertius type can thus be narrowed down between January and about mid-177 AD.

The reverse has an interesting historical background. In the spring of 175 AD Commodus set off to join his father in Germania. Marcus Aurelius then declared him of age on 7 July 175 AD and recommended him to the soldiers. After the end of the First Marcomannic War (there was a truce with the Jazygians; they surrendered 100,000 Roman prisoners and provided a contingent of 8000 horsemen, 5500 of whom were detached to Britain) Commodus travelled with his father to Syria and Egypt in 175-176 AD; from which they both then returned to Rome in the autumn of 176 AD. After their return, Marcus Aurelius – and later his son Commodus – celebrated a triumph (“de Germanis” and “de Sarmatis”) in Rome on 23 December of 176 AD. The triumphal procession of Commodus is said to have been deliberately held later and separately from his father in order to present the potential heir to the throne to the Roman people separately. Marcus Aurelius walked alongside his son’s triumphal chariot (Marc. 16, 2). Since the triumphal procession is said to have taken place about a month after that of Marcus Aurelius – the event (which the sestertius presented here depicts) can be assumed to have taken place around mid to late January 177 AD.

It seems that three variations of this type of sestertius exist. The reference RIC 1563 speaks of “Head of Commodus, bare, right”. However, there is no example image of this variant in RIC itself. Nor have I found any other examples of this variant – not on the internet, a past auction, a museum, a catalogue or any other reference. Cohen and Sear do not know this variant at all, so it is questionable whether this type exists at all. The reference RIC 1564 knows two variations (which is also known by Cohen with Commodus 749) with “Bust of Commodus, laureate, right” and “Bust of Commodus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right”. The latter variant is also illustrated at RIC itself (Münzkabinett der Universität Göttingen). I have also found an illustrated example from the University of Oxford (HCR22883) and an example from a private collector on the internet. The variant “laureate, draped, cuirassed, right” is nevertheless extremely rare to find.

The sestertius presented here, was actually the 2nd known example. The 1st example you can find at Banti 410 (“A. Hess 1933“). The coin at MIR 382-16/30 (“Schulman, Amsterdam, Juni 1924, 862”) was the same as the Banti coin (same picture).

Imperator Caesar Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Augustus
Reign: Marcus Aurelius
Mint: Tripolis ad Maeandrum, Lydia
Date: 177/180 AD
Nominal: Bronze Medallion
Material: AE
Diameter: 37mm
Weight: 23.53g

Reference: RPC IV.2 17452 (this coin)
RPC Online: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/17452
Rare: Specimens 1 (0 in the core collections)
Provenance: Savoca Numismatik Munich, Germany (Auction 133, Lot 193)
Provenance: Comptoir des Monnaies Anciennes Lille, France
Pedigree: –
Special: Only known example, RPC Online Plate coin

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Commodus (youthful) wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right, seen from centre
Inscription: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ Λ ΑΥΡ ΚοΜΟΔΟϹ
Translation: Autokrator Kaisaros Lucios Aurelios Komodos
Translation: Imperator Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus

Reverse: Dionysus (youthful) standing, facing, head, right, placing hand on top of his head, being supported by Satyr; to left, panther jumping, left
Inscription: ΤΡΙΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ
Translation: Tripoleiton
Translation: City and People of Tripolis (ad Maeandrum)

Comment: Tripolis on the Meander (Latin: Tripolis ad Maeandrum, named ca. 30 BC – AD 640) – also Apollonia (named ca. 330 BC – 30 BC), Antoniopolis (named ca. 330 BC – AD 300) and Neapolis – was an ancient city on the borders of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia, on the northern bank of the upper course of the Maeander, and on the road leading from Sardes by Philadelphia to Laodicea ad Lycum. It was situated 20 km to the northwest of Hierapolis. The earliest mention of Tripolis is by Pliny the Elder, who treats it as a Lydian town. Ptolemy and Stephanus of Byzantium describe it as a Carian town. Hierocles likewise calls it a Lydian town. Although the founding of the city of Tripoli is dated to the Hellenistic period, archaeological finds prove that the area was already inhabited from 4000 BC. It was conquered or settled by Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Seljuks and Mongols. Located at the crossroads of the ancient regions of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia, the city was initially founded under the name Apollonia on Lydian territory. The name of the city changed over time; as people from all three regions settled in the city, it was renamed Tripolis (Tri-polis; three-city settlements) in the 1st century BC. This name remained until the city was abandoned in the 7th century AD. Tripoli reached its heyday and the height of its power in Roman times, especially in the period after the 2nd century AD. During this time, new public buildings were erected, including the city gates, streets, the baths, the stadium, as well as the theatre and the Bouleuterion. In 494 AD, the city was partially destroyed. This event began the gradual depopulation of the city, which culminated in the Sassanid raids in the sixth and seventh centuries. The inhabitants retreated to the city of Direbol, only 8 km north of Tripoli. Situated on a ridge, this place was better defended. The coinage from Tripolis ad Maeandrum seems to have come to an end under Marcus Aurelius (with issues of Commodus as Caesar) – and was not resumed until the time of Caracalla or Severus Alexander. There are many coinages under Commodus from other cities in the Lydia region – but not from Tripolis ad Maeandrum.

Pliny the Elder gives a concise and equally vague description of the region of Lydia: the centre of the heartland was Mount Tmolos, where the capital Sardis was located, Lake Gygia (today: Marmara Gölü) and the surrounding fertile plain along the Hermos (today: Gediz). Lydia bordered Caria to the south, Phrygia to the east, Mysia to the north and extended beyond Ionia to the west. If one disregards the western border with Ionia, the description is considered correct. In concrete terms, there were no clear border lines, but border zones. In the late phase of Hellenism, the Roman Empire showed some activity in the Lydian area: after the victory over Antiochos III, negotiations were held with the Seleucids in Sardis, as they were later with the Galatians. With the victory over the Seleucids, Asia Minor remained quiet for a long time. When the Attalid dynasty ended with the death of Attalus III in 133 BC, the ruler bequeathed his empire – and with it the former Lydian territory – to the Romans. The Romans granted independence to Sardis and other Lydian cities. Despite the fact that the Lydian cities remained relatively untouched by the Vespers of Ephesus (88 BC) and the 1st Mithridatic War (89 to 84 BC), the area became part of the province of Asia as part of Sulla’s reorganisation of Asia Minor (84 BC). In the course of the Diocletianic provincial reform in 297 AD, a province of Lydia was again created, which, however, only consisted of the barely expanded Hermos Valley, the heart of Lydian culture.

The Lydian religion is polytheistic, although it is not always clear, especially from the Late Lydian period onwards, how far one can speak of Lydian religion, because on the one hand there was considerable syncretism with Greek gods, many Greek gods were adopted and on the other hand, since the later period, many testimonies go back to the rapidly asserting Hellenistic culture. The central goddess was Kybele or Kuvava, who is closely linked to the Phrygian Kybele or Matar. She is usually depicted as a female figure with lion companions. Artemis also received great veneration, for example from Kroisos. The worship of male gods has left fewer remains. Bacchus or Dionysos is the Lydian Baki-, cited and implied in Lydian texts, which in nature and number suggest that Baki-’s cult existed in the Lydian era, although the date of the texts is Classical and Hellenistic. Satyrs, the followers of Dionysos, are depicted at Sardis in the sixth century BC on the marble naiskos of Cybele (No. 34, Figs. 1, 2) and make an active cult highly probable. Moreover, Lydia is mentioned as the place of birth in Euripides’ play “The Bacchae”, there are Roman coins that point to this idea.

The earliest depictions of Dionysus date back to the 7th century BC. On Attic vases in particular, this theme is one of the most frequently dealt with between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. The sight of predators in the vicinity of Dionysus is found above all in the depictions of Gigantomahky on Attic ceramics from 560 BC onwards. The most intense depictions are found within the Hellenistic and Roman periods. From the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD, especially between the 2nd-3rd century AD, the child Dionysus was depicted both with predators (panther, lion, tiger or leopard) and alone. The “Statue of the Child Dionysus”, which was found during the excavations in Tripoli (ad Maeandrum) in 2007, is well known. Dionysus is depicted here in a position facing the panther. Unfortunately, the statue has not been preserved above the waist. Equally well-known is the Eros relief of the child Dionysus discovered by G. Weber in Tripoli in the late 19th century. Further examples can be found on other statues, sarcophagi and mosaics, so that a lively cult and great popularity of Dionysus can be concluded. Around the ancient city of Tripoli are important centres of sculpture such as Tralleis, Aphrodisias, Hierapolis, Philadelphia and Dokimeion. Tripoli is probably a local centre inspired by these cities.

Dionysos (Latinised Dionysus) is the god of wine, joy, grapes, fertility, madness and ecstasy in the Greek world of the gods (compare the Dionysia). He was additionally called Bromios (“noisemaker”), Bacchus (“caller”) or Bakchos by the Greeks and Romans because of the noise his entourage made. Dionysus was often equated with Iakchos and is the youngest of the great Greek gods. In literature and poetry he is often referred to as Lysios and as Lyaeus (“the Worry Breaker”), but also as Anthroporrhaistes (“Man Shatterer”). Dionysus is usually depicted with ivy or vine tendrils and grapes. His attributes are the thyrsos crowned with ivy and vines and the kantharos (drinking vessel for wine). He is also often depicted with panther or tiger skins. He was usually triumphantly accompanied by the Silene and satyrs (such as the Ampelos), who embody the fertility of untamed nature.

In his capacity as god of joy, the theatre was invented in Athens through the Dionysia and the prototype theatre was built, the Dionysus Theatre in Athens. As a solver (Lysios, Lyaios) he unleashed the people, freed them from worries and made walls collapse. Later in Rome, the Dionysia were celebrated as the Bacchanalia, because Dionysus in Latin means Bacchus. The festival was celebrated from the 2nd century BC and took place annually on 16 and 17 March on the hill of Aventine in Rome. In terms of religious psychology, Dionysia and Bacchanalia should be understood as an intoxicating cult of spring and fertility: The overcoming of the season of winter through the renewed growth of vegetation, which could be experienced by everyone, was related to the human joy of being and, not least, sexuality. Bacchanalia could have been excessive through the consumption of alcohol with psychedelic substances such as hallucinogenic mushrooms and even belladonna. In “Bacchae”, Euripides describes the participants as revelers who put on skins and hides and assume animal roles.

The Bacchanalia scandal 186 BC. In the 39th book of his Roman history Ab urbe condita (“From the Founding of the City”), the Roman historian Titus Livius gives a detailed and extremely dramatic account of the events. In addition, there are several mentions of the Bacchanalia scandal in the anecdotal collection of Valerius Maximus, from which, however, we learn nothing beyond what is reported by Livius. In the early 2nd century BC, the bacchanalia escalated into boisterous, licentious orgies. First of all, Livius reported that the spread of the form of the cult of Bacchus, ultimately suppressed by the Senate, started from a Greek priest of lesser rank who had resided for a time in Etruria, then turned to Rome and began to seek followers for his nocturnal rites. At first there were only a few whom he was able to initiate into his mysteries, but soon their number grew considerably, due to the attraction that the enjoyment of wine and sexual permissiveness, which occurred in the course of these Bacchic orgies, exerted on women as well as men. Every conceivable kind of licentiousness was practised there. In 186 BC, after a scandal, they were strictly regulated by the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus, the “Senate Decree on the Bacchanalia”. According to reports by the historians Flavius and Titus Livius, the scandal was uncovered by the consul Spurius Postumius Albinus. A total of 7000 women and men were executed and the bacchanalia became subject to approval.

Commodus is best known for his fondness for the hero Hercules. However, Commodus was also – at least in the early years – celebrated and honored as the new Dionysus, as can be found on many inscriptions. An example from Ephesus, found near the old harbor in the apsidal building near the so-called baptismal font of John. Here the emperor is identified with a god as a “new Dionysos” (AGRW 173 = IEph 293 = PHI 248767 = AGRW ID# 1319 Copenhagen Inventory info: 1620). The translation, according to Harland, is: “The emperor-loving, hair-cloth wearing (or: sack-bearing) initiates (sakēphoroi mystai) of the primal god Dionysos Koreseitos set this up in honor of emperor Caesar M. Aurelius Commodos Antoninus Augustus, new Dionysos, during the priesthood of M. Aurelius Menemachos, the high-priest and president”.