Own a Coin from the Emperor Who Closed the Antonine Age

A real NGC-certified Roman silver denarius of Commodus—the son of Marcus Aurelius whose reign brought the Antonine dynasty to its dramatic close and whose assassination was followed by the political crisis of AD 193.

✓ NGC Certified
✓ Guaranteed Authentic
✓ 30-Day Returns

📷 Coin shown is a representative example. You will receive one authentic NGC-certified silver denarius of Commodus. Each coin is unique and will vary in grade, strike, centering, toning, and overall appearance.

🏛 Struck during the closing years of the Antonine dynasty and the traditional high point of the Roman Empire

⚔️ Features Commodus, co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius from AD 177 and sole emperor from AD 180

🤲 A certified Roman silver denarius from one of the major turning points of imperial history

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

The long era commonly called the Pax Romana began under Augustus and extended across roughly two centuries of relative imperial stability. Its later phase included the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius—emperors often associated with Rome's political and territorial high point.

Commodus was born into that world.

The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was elevated to the rank of Augustus and became co-emperor with his father in AD 177. When Marcus died in AD 180, Commodus became sole ruler of an empire stretching from Britain to the Near East.

His reign became one of Rome's most debated turning points.

Commodus increasingly delegated government to powerful favorites while cultivating a highly personal style of imperial rule. He famously associated himself with Hercules, appeared in staged arena performances, and used elaborate public spectacle to reinforce his image and authority.

Despite later portrayals of immediate collapse, the empire did not simply disintegrate under Commodus. Administration and the economy continued to function, but court politics, executions, conspiracies, and tensions with the senatorial elite contributed to mounting instability.

In AD 192, Commodus was assassinated in a palace conspiracy. His death ended the Antonine dynasty and was followed by the turbulent Year of the Five Emperors in AD 193.

This silver denarius preserves the image of the last Antonine emperor at the end of a celebrated era of Roman imperial history.

Perfect For

• Collectors of the Antonine dynasty
• Roman Empire and High Empire enthusiasts
• NGC-certified ancient coin collectors
• Collectors of Roman silver coinage
• Anyone seeking a certified artifact from a major turning point in Roman history

What You'll Receive

• One authentic NGC-certified Roman silver denarius of Commodus
• Denomination: AR Denarius
• Certified by NGC for authenticity and preservation
• Struck during Commodus's imperial period, AD 177–192
• Civilization: Roman Empire
• Century: 2nd Century AD
• Similar to the representative example shown (each coin is unique)

Continue the Story

Commodus stood at the end of the Antonine dynasty. His assassination did not itself cause Rome's later third-century crisis, but it opened a violent succession struggle that reshaped imperial politics and helped bring the long Antonine era to a close.

Explore our other Roman Empire, Antonine Dynasty, Roman Silver, High Empire, and 2nd Century collections to continue discovering the emperors and turning points that shaped ancient history.

Buy with Confidence

• NGC certified for authenticity and preservation
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

New to Ancient Coins?

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Learn More

Continue the story in the Kinzer Coins Journal: Commodus Coins: Hercules Romanus & the Last Antonine Emperor.