Ancient Coin ID needed

[hnieman]

I had a couple ancient coins ID'd here a while ago and I just came across another tucked away with some of my American silver coins. My ancinet coin ID skills obviously suck since I spent quite a bit of time trying to ID this one with little luck. I'm pretty sure it's Roman maybe in the the 100A.D. to 200A.D. range because I saw designs similar to the back of this one in that range.

I beg of you mighty coin masters, please take a shot at ID'ing this. It simply bugs me not being able to place a name to a face.

 

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[Mackaydon]

Commodus Caesar. The coin is a 'denarius'.
Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II. He was made Caesar on the 12th October 166, his full name being Lucius Aurelius Commodus Caesar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus

The staff-like object is called a 'littus', symbolizing authority.

Coin similar to this one: http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ar&gbv=2&ndsp=20&hl=en&sa=N&start=20&ie=UTF-8

 

[hnieman]

Another fast ID. Thank you very much.

 

[Mackaydon]

H:
Your date range estimate was spot on and the reverse images you recall were made famous on the coins of Brutus--as here: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=brutus&s=0&results=100
Don.......

 

[allen]

that is one sweet looking ancient coin !!

 

[wagbert]

Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus -- Caesar 166-177 A.D., Augustus 177-192

Van Meter 193, The denomination is called an "As" and made from copper or a copper alloy. As a basic unit, there were 16 asses in a silver denarius. This coin was issued in 175 A.D. by Marcus Aurelius to commemorate his son and heir apparent Commodus associating with the College of Priests. The reverse shows the priestly implements used in sacrifices . The obverse has the bare headed bust of the young Caesar facing right. A new issue would have weighed approx. 11 grams, and would have been 24-28 mm. in diameter. A similar denarius would have been made of good silver with a weight of 3.5 grams + or - .3 grams, and about dime sized at 19 mm. There were so many irregularities at the mints that the ancient coins were seldom made to consistent standards.

By the way, if you see a nice condition ancient Roman gold Aureus advertised on an on-line auction, it had better weigh 7.5-7.8 grams. The Aureus and the denarius are about the same size and sometimes share similar designs, but gold is almost twice as heavy as silver, and I have see gold plated denarii offered for sale as aureuii.
GOOGLE-- Commodus He went mad you know. He believed he was the reincarnation of Hercules. Eventually he was assassinated because his antics became so ridiculous .