Commodus Denarius Ancient Roman Empire Silver Coin 186AD RIC 146

Obverse: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, Head of Commodus, laureate, right
Reverse: AVCT PIET P M TR P XII IMP VIII COS V P P, Pietas, veiled, draped, standing left, dropping incense from patera in right hand on lighted altar left and holding incense box in left hand
Date: c. 186-187 A.D.
ID: RIC III Commodus 146
Size: 19mm diameter, 2.63g weight
Composition: Silver

Pietas was the Roman goddess of religious piety.

After the death of his father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in 180 AD, Commodus became sole emperor at the age of 18. He initially enjoyed popular support but soon proved to be an erratic and unstable ruler. Commodus was known for his love of gladiatorial games and his fascination with his own physical prowess, considering himself a modern-day Hercules. He often appeared in the arena to fight as a gladiator (in staged matches), engaged in excessive spending on public works projects and lavished gifts on his supporters. He passed a law renaming each of the twelve calendar months to one of his many names, and even renamed the Roman people to "Commodianus." 

Commodus' rule was marked by corruption, incompetence, and various court intrigues and conspiracies. In 192 AD, a group of conspirators led by the head of the Praetorian Guard, and Commodus' own mistress, Marcia, plotted to assassinate him. Commodus was first poisoned, but after vomiting up the poison was then strangled to death by his former wrestling partner. Upon his death, the Roman Senate declared him a public enemy, tearing down his statues and erasing his name from the imperial records.