Brass Sestertius of Commodus RIC 448

Brass Sestertius (28mm 16.77g) Struck AD 184-185 Rome

Obv:M COMMODVS ANT FELIX AVG P BRIT Laureate bust right

Rev:TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P LIBERAL AVG Commodus seated left on platform

RIC-448
ex. Bob Brinsfield Collection

The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

The front shows a portrait of Commodus wearing a laurel wreath (the ultimate Roman crown). The abbreviated Latin text wrapping around his head says: M COMMODVS ANT FELIX AVG P BRIT

• Marcus Commodus Antoninus: His official names.
• Felix: Means "Lucky" or "Blessed." He added this to his title to show the gods loved him.
• Avg (Augustus): The official title for "Emperor."
• P Brit (Pius Britannicus): "Pious" (dutiful) and "Conqueror of Britain." His generals had just crushed a massive rebellion in Britain, so he took the credit to look like a military hero.

The Back (Reverse): Free Money!

The back of the coin celebrates a massive party theme. The text reads: TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P LIBERAL AVG

The key word here is LIBERAL AVG (Liberalitas Augusti), which translates to "The Imperial Generosity."

The scene shows Commodus sitting high up on a wooden platform (a suggestum). Next to him stands the goddess Liberalitas (the spirit of giving) holding a counting board, and an assistant who is busy handing out free coins or food vouchers to a citizen climbing up a set of stairs.

Whenever a Roman emperor hit a milestone or wanted to keep the public from rioting, they would host a congiarium—a massive giveaway of cash and grain to the citizens of Rome. This coin was literally minted to say: "Look how rich and generous your emperor is! Don't forget who gives you free stuff."

Decoding the Dates

The rest of the letters are a countdown of his political achievements up to that exact year:

• TR P X: His 10th year holding Tribunician Power (ruler of the people).
• IMP VII: Acclaimed as a military victor for the 7th time.
• COS IIII: Serving his 4th term as Consul (the highest office).
• P P: Pater Patriae, meaning "Father of the Country."

It's essentially a pocket-sized political billboard bragging about his military victories in Britain and the cold, hard cash he gave away to keep the public happy!