Commodus AE Sestertius (Libertas, RIC III 311a)

COMMODUS, AD 177-192
AE Sestertius (32.70mm, 23.17g, 11h)
Struck AD 181. Rome mint
Obverse: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head of Commodus right
Reverse: LIBERTAS AVG TR P VI IMP IIII COS III P P, Libertas, draped, standing left, holding pileus in right hand and long vertical rod in left
References: RIC III 311a; RCV – ; ERIC II 705 corr.

Warm brown patina. Well centered and struck on a full flan, with both obverse and reverse legends preserved in full. A fine portrait of the young Commodus, only one year into his sole reign. The reverse type depicting Libertas (the personification of Liberty) was a common one throughout the Principate, though such symbolism under the emperors had long been more propaganda than fact. This would have been even more poignantly evident in the aftermath of Commodus’ disastrous rule, which led to a series of civil wars and ultimately, the establishment of a transparently military dictatorship under Septimius Severus.

Collection : Roman Imperial - the Nerva-Antonine Emperors