| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 793 Price realized: 16,000 USD (Approx. 14,654 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Commodus. AD 177-192. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.31 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 189. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ROMAE AET ERNAE; C V P• P• in exergue, Roma, helmeted and draped, seated left on shield, holding Victory in extended right hand and reversed spear in left. RIC III 195a; MIR 18, 763-2/37; Calicó 2320 (this coin illustrated); BMCRE 238; Biaggi 1010 (this coin). Lightly toned, minor mark. Superb EF. Ex Roger Wolf Collection, purchased from Gorny & Mosch, 19 January 2009; Leo Biaggi de Blasys Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 49, 21 October 2008), lot 296, purchased from Leu, 1965. Commodus attained many prestigious titles starting at a young age. For example, he was made Caesar at age five and, breaking with tradition, adopted the title Pater Patriae or Father of the State at a very early state in his coinage. Later in his reign, such as when this issue was struck, the evidence of this early titles remained apparent. Here, the legend in the exergue on the coin's reverse reads C V P• P•. The P P stands for the aforementioned title Pater Patriae while the C V refers to Commodus' fifth consulate. Estimate: 10000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 558 | Auction date: 20 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 621 Price realized: 90 USD (Approx. 83 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Dupondius (24.5mm, 15.51 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 186. M COMM ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT, radiate head right / P M TR P XI IMP [VII] COS V P P, S C low across field, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC III –; MIR 18, 701-8/50. Green patina, minor deposits and roughness. VF. Very rare. Purchased by the consignor from Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe, FUN 2008. Estimate: 100 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 835 Price realized: 2,750 USD (Approx. 2,519 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Gordian II. AD 238. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.14 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck 1-22 April. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTO RIA AVGG, Victory, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in raised right hand and palm frond in left. RIC IV 2; BMCRE 28; RSC 12. Deep cabinet tone, scratch under tone on reverse. Near EF. From the Wayne Scheible Collection. Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 789 Price realized: 13,000 USD (Approx. 11,907 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Commodus. AD 177-192. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.09 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 181. M • COMMODVS ΛNTONINVS ΛVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITΛS PVBLICΛ TR P VI IMP IIII, COS III P P in exergue, Securitas, draped, seated right, resting head on right hand and holding transverse scepter in left. RIC III 23 var. (not cuirassed); MIR 18, 514-2/37; Calicó 2325 (same rev. die as illustration); BMCRE 54 var. (same; same rev. die); Biaggi 1011 var. (bust type); Mazzini 700 v. (same obv. die). Some luster, light scratch. EF. The sole reign of Commodus, AD 180-192, is often viewed as the tipping point where The Roman Empire's long decline began. Commodus has thus been featured in novels, plays, and feature films, usually as a villain, most recently in the cinema epics "Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964), portrayed by Christopher Plummer, and "Gladiator" (2001), portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. His actual persona, and the events of his 12-year sole reign, are far more complex and fantastical than depicted in either film. The son of the greatly revered "Philosopher Emperor" Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), Commodus was born "in the purple" in AD 161 and was raised in an almost monastically austere environment. Marcus made him co-Augustus in AD 177, and the following year he accompanied Marcus to the Danubian front on a strenuous military campaign against the Germanic tribes. Worn out by his exertions, Marcus died on 17 March AD 180, commending Commodus to the legions as his successor. Freed of his dutiful father's control, Commodus cut a deal with the Germans and abandoned all further plans of military conquest. Returning to Rome, he plunged into sensual pursuits and left governing to a succession of favorites who, for the most part, plundered the public purse and aggrandized themselves. His lax rule soon led to plots against the regime, which were ruthlessly suppressed; one ended in the exile and executions of his sister Lucilla and wife Crispina. Rejecting the intellectuality of his father, Commodus favored the physicality of the Arena and fancied himself as a great athlete, hunter and gladiator. The Roman people seemed largely to enjoy his antics; however his close advisors began to fear for their own lives and ultimately arranged his death by strangulation at the hands of his wrestling instructor. The damage done by his 12 years of listless, corrupt rule was deep and lasting. While Commodus continued and worsened the debasement of Roman silver coinage begun by his father, the gold coinage remained of high purity, weight and artistry. This beautiful aureus, struck early in his sole reign, depicts him as a young man very much in the image of his father. The historians Dio and Herodian both describe him as exceptionally handsome, a picture borne out by his coin portraits and sculpture. The reverse evokes the "Security of the Public" in an uncertain age. Estimate: 10000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 792 Price realized: 600 USD (Approx. 550 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (30.5mm, 25.11 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 184. M COMMODVS AN TON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head right / TR P VIIII IMP VII COS IIII; VICT BRIT in exergue, Victory, draped at waist, seated right on two shields, supporting shield with left hand and left knee and inscribing it with stylus held in right hand; S C across lower field. RIC III 440; MIR 18, 653-6/30; BMCRE 551 var. (obv. legend break); Banti 484; SCBC 648. Dark brown patina with some red and green, smoothing. VF. From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection, purchased from Tom Cederlind, 1 April 2004. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 830 Price realized: 2,500 USD (Approx. 2,290 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Gordian I. AD 238. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.10 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 1-22 April. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS AVGG, Securitas, draped, seated left on throne, holding scepter in right hand, fold of drapery over left arm. RIC IV 5; BMCRE 11; RSC 10. Toned with some trace iridescence, some reverse die wear. EF. Ex Gemini XIII (6 April 2017), lot 203. Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
