Commodus- Hercules

Commodus, March or April 177 - 31 Dec 192 A.D.

Obverse:
Laureate head right

M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS

M: Marcus
COMMODVS: Commodus
ANTON: Antoninus, Antoninus
AVG: Augustus,
PIVS: Pius,

Reverse:
TR P VIIII IMP VI COS IIII P P, S C

TRP: Tribunicia Potestas,
VIIII: 9
IMP: Imperator,
VI: 6
COS: Consul,
IIII: 4
PP: Pater Patria,

S—C: Senatus Consulto,

Showing: Hercules standing left, head at right and with clob and bow.

Domination: AS, Copper, size 25 mm
Mint: Rome

TRP = This is short for tribunicia potestate - "with the power of the Tribune of the Plebs." The government of Rome was split into the Patricians (who were Senators) and the Plebians. Nine Tribunes of the Plebs were elected by both Plebs and Patricians every year to be in charge of the Plebian assembly. These Tribunes could not be injured because it could be punishable by death. They had veto powers, and they could prevent a law from being passed or an election. An emperor cannot technically rule on the Plebian assembly since he is a Patrician, but by taking the title he could be free from injury. On a coin, if this symbol is followed by a number, it depicts how many times he has been elected Tribune of the Plebs.