Medallion - Commodus Hercules

Reverse

Hercules, nude, standing, front-facing, holding club and lion skin in left hand, crowning himself with a wreath in right hand. Olive tree in left field with bow and quiver hanging from branch. Burining altar with garlands in right field.

Script: Latin

Lettering: P M TR P X IMP VII COS IIII PP

Comment

Apart from normal coinage intended for general circulation, Roman emperors struck large medallions intended as awards of merit or distinctions handed out to foreign dignitaries, high-ranking government and military officials on important occasions, often to mark the beginning of a new year.

Commodus received his sixth imperatorial acclamation for the victory in Britain of Ulpius Marcellus, who crushed the Caledonian invasion of the province.