My first post! A silver denarius of the Emperor Commodus, who reigned from 177-192 AD. Commodus was the Emperor in the movie 'Gladiator'. The movie was quite entertaining, but the real story of Commodus is far more interesting. He actually believed himself to be Hercules, and fought wild beasts in the Arena. He advertised this on certain coins issued during his reign, one of which is depicted here. He wears the skin of the Nemean lion on the obverse, and the reverse features the club of Hercules, and the pronouncement of Commodus as the 'Roman Hercules'. For his investiture for 193 AD, which was the annual ceremony that renewed an Emperor's powers, Commodus insisted on wearing the attire of a gladiator. Imagine an American President-Elect wanting to dress as a boxer for their inauguration, and you'll get the idea. This was simply too much for the sensibilities of those around him, and it was arranged for Commodus to be murdered before he could disgrace the office of Emperor further. This was accomplished by hiring a wrestler to strangle him. His death set off a series of events that would tear the Empire apart.

Commodus as Hercules on a silver denarius