Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 29.14 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 184. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 804. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 29.14 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 184. Laureate head right / Fides standing right, holding two stalks of grain and raising plate of fruits. RIC III 413; MIR 18, 598-6/30; Banti 478. Dark brown patina. Good VF.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 791; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 902141 (August 2011).

Because of the high infant mortality within the family, no clear successors to Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus existed. The arrival of Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus and his twin, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus in AD 161 was viewed as a particularly fortuitous event. The early death of Titus left only his brother Lucius to survive to adulthood. Lucius Verus and his wife Lucilla, one of the two surviving daughters of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, had their own misfortunes, as all their children died shortly after birth. Thus, by the time Verus himself died in AD 169, the only viable successor remained Aurelius’ son Commodus, who had been granted the title of Caesar in AD 166.

Between his appointment as Caesar and his subsequent appointment as Augustus in AD 177, Commodus accompanied his father on campaign in order to familiarize himself with the necessities of governance and military command. This was a critical time for Marcus Aurelius, whose sole rule at this time was beset both by revolt in Egypt under Avidius Cassius and a long, protracted war with the Marcomanni and Quadi. Commodus’ assumption of his first consulship in January AD 177 and appointment as Augustus in mid-year must have come as welcome relief. In the summer of AD 178, Commodus married Bruttia Crispina to whom he had been betrothed for some time and for which event Marcus Aurelius had made a public sacrifice. These were heady days for the dynasty in that misfortune had been averted and it seemed that the Antonine legacy of calm peaceful rule was to continue. This, however, was not to be as Marcus Aurelius spent the remainder of his reign on campaign in Germania, dying on the frontier in AD 180. The hope inspired in the early days of Commodus’ reign grew dark as apparent megalomania set in, resulting in Commodus’ belief in himself as Hercules reincarnate, a belief that led to his assassination on the last day of December AD 192.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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