A former grammar teacher, Pertinax dabbled in the army where he found great success and climbed the ranks eventually landing several high ranking army and civil posts. He was then nominated Augustus following the murder of Commodus by a Senate only too willing to put the Commodus legacy behind them. Pertinax might well have made a great ruler were it not for an almost accidental turn of events. It seems that certain elements within the army were unhappy about how much of a bonus they received as was common upon a changing of rulers. The soldiers revolted and headed for Pertinax's quarters where the elderly Emperor decided to take matters into his own hands and fight them. He was, of course, no match for these mutinous soldiers and we can speculate that had he not confronted them personally but let his Praetorian Guardsmen deal with them he would have lived long enough to dispel this minor revolt.
RIC 1a AR Denarius Obv: IMPCAESPHELVPERTINAVG, laureate head right
Rev: AEQVITAVGTPPCOSII, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae.
