Lot 3460

Description

Commodus, (A.D. 177-192), silver denarius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 191-2, (2.692 grams), obv. head of Commodus to right wearing lion skin, around L AEL AVREL COM M AVG P FEL K, rev. in three lines HERCVL ROMAN AVGV, club, all within laurel wreath, (S.5644, RIC 251, RSC 190, BMC 339). Full flan as usual, cleaned, very fine and rare.

Ex Numismatik Lanz Munchen, Auction Sale 128, May 22, 2006, (lot 511). Commodus identified closely with the mythical hero Hercules. During certain of his megalomaniacal charades the emperor would dress in costume and bludgeon prisoners to death with his "Herculean" club.