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Orbis Collectibles

RIC III Commodus 637

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC III Commodus 637. Denomination: Sestertius. Authority: Commodus. Mint: Rome. The obverse shows head of Commodus, wearing lion-skin, right, with the legend L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL. The reverse shows upright club surrounded by laurel wreath, with the legend HERCVL ROMANO AVGV S C.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
6
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Commodus ruled the Roman Empire from 177 to 192, initially alongside his father Marcus Aurelius and then as sole emperor from 180. His reign saw an increasingly dictatorial leadership and the establishment of a deific personality cult. This period of rule ended with his assassination in 192, concluding the Nerva–Antonine dynasty.

Struck at the mint of Rome, this bronze sestertius belongs to the imperial coinage system where the denomination served commerce as one quarter of a denarius. The issue features obverse portraiture of Commodus wearing a lion-skin, paired with the legend "L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL". The reverse depicts an upright club enclosed by a laurel wreath, accompanied by the inscription "HERCVL ROMANO AVGV S C".

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Denomination
Sestertius

Technical characteristics

Mint
Rome
Authority
Commodus

Design

Obverse
Head of Commodus, wearing lion-skin, right
Reverse
Upright club surrounded by laurel wreath
Obverse legend
L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL
Reverse legend
HERCVL ROMANO AVGV S C

Identification

Type reference
RIC III Commodus 637
Denomination and metal
Sestertius, Bronze
Obverse legend to match
L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL
Reverse legend to match
HERCVL ROMANO AVGV S C
Source note
Type description from the American Numismatic Society's Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE); individual specimens differ in die, flan size, weight and wear, and legend breaks may vary.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Editorial verification required.
  • Weight, diameter and mint marks require specimen-level evidence.
  • Museum specimen photographs are linked by the source; local photographs and reuse rights remain unverified.
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