Impressive Portrait
Commodus. AD 177-192. AV Aureus (21mm, 7.24 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 188. M • COMM • ANT • P • FEL • AVG BRIT, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XIII • IMP VIII COS V • P • P, Aequitas, draped, standing front, head left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopia in left. RIC III 164 var. (bust type); MIR 18, 741-2/37; Calicó 2305 (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 242 var. (same); Adda 365 (same obv. die). Lustrous. EF. A bold and impressive portrait.
Ex MACM inventory MMoCA50C; Lanz 148 (with Numismatica Bernardi, 4 January 2010), lot 113.
The sole reign of Commodus, AD 180-192, is often viewed as the tipping point where The Roman Empire's ascent ended and its long decline began. Commodus has thus been featured in novels, plays, and feature films, usually as a villain, most recently in the cinema epics "Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964), portrayed by Christopher Plummer, and "Gladiator" (2001), portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. His actual persona, and the events of his 12-year sole reign, are far more complex and fantastical than depicted in either film. The son of the greatly revered "Philosopher Emperor" Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), Commodus was born "in the purple" in AD 161 and was raised in an almost monastically austere environment. Marcus raised him to the rank of Consul in January 177 and made him co-Augustus a few months later. He accompanied Marcus to the Danubian front on a strenuous military campaign against the Germanic tribes in 178; worn out by his exertions, Marcus died on 17 March AD 180. Freed of his dutiful father's control, Commodus immediately cut a deal with the Germans and abandoned all further plans of military conquest. Returning to Rome, he plunged into sensual pursuits and left governing to a succession of favorites who plundered the public purse and aggrandized themselves. His lax rule soon led to plots against the regime, which were ruthlessly suppressed. Rejecting the intellectuality of his father, Commodus favored the physicality of the arena and fancied himself as a great athlete, hunter and gladiator. After the fall of his corrupt vizier Cleander in AD 190, Commodus took control of governmental affairs himself. Wealthy Romans in high positions were routinely executed so their estates could be confiscated to finance his orgy of self-indulgence. Still the Roman people seemed largely to enjoy his antics, and the Legions remained loyal throughout. However, his close advisors began to fear for their own lives and ultimately arranged his death by strangulation at the hands of his wrestling instructor. The damage done by his 12 years of listless, corrupt rule was deep and lasting.
While Commodus continued and worsened the debasement of Roman silver coinage begun by his father, the gold coinage remained of high purity, weight and artistry. This beautiful aureus, struck at the mid point of his reign, depicts him as as a bearded philosopher-king much in the image of his father. The reverse evokes Aequitas, personification of equal justice, something in scarce supply during his reign.
