Commodus (177-192 AD), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 192 AD, RIC 251, RSC 190, BMC 339 (3.3 g, 17 mm)

 In the later part of his reign, Commodus began to show signs of megalomania. He may well have been unhinged by the continual attempts on his life. He gave orders that he be called Hercules, son of Zeus instead of Commodus, son of Marcus, and took to wearing a lion skin and carrying a club in public. He also appeared in the games of 192 AD in the guise of Hercules Venator, killing various animals and fighting as a gladiator. By contemporary accounts, the left-handed emperor was quite a marksman, beheading Mauretanian ostriches with his arrows. The contrast of his character with his revered father, Marcus Aurelius, led to rumours that he was illegitimate, the product of his mother’s adultery with a gladiator. He was assassinated on December 31st, 192 AD.

Obverse: Head of Commodus as Hercules right, wearing lion skin. L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL

Reverse: Legend devided by club, all within wreath. HER-CVL / RO-MAN / AV-GV



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