Roman Bronze Sestertius - Rome 180-192 AD - Commodus

• Date: 180-192 AD
• Size: 28 mm, 19.34 g
• Composition: Bronze
• Internal SKU: 87X411

HISTORICAL NOTE: Commodus (AD 180 - 192): Commodus, also known as Lucius Aurelius Commodus, was the seventeenth Emperor of Rome. His reign is often considered to mark the end of the Roman Empire's golden period of the Pax Romana. Commodus was the first emperor 'born in the purple,' meaning he was born while his father was emperor. Commodus' coinage featured his portrait on the obverse, with various designs on the reverse that often celebrated his supposed divine descent and his participation in gladiatorial games. He issued several denominations, including the gold Aureus, the silver Denarius, and various bronze coins. Commodus' monetary policy was characterized by extravagance, with the emperor often using the coinage to promote his own image as a warrior and demigod. Sestertius: The Sestertius was a large brass coin used during the Roman Empire. It was first minted in the mid-3rd century BC and was initially a small silver coin. However, during the reign of Augustus in the 1st century AD, the Sestertius was reintroduced as a large brass coin. It was valued at one-quarter of a Denarius and was used for large-scale transactions and public expenditures.