RPC IV.4, 3374

 

Image of specimen #2

 

Coin type
Volume IV.4
Number 3374
Province Egypt
Region Egypt
City Alexandria
Reign Marcus Aurelius
Person (obv.) Crispina (Augusta)
Issue Uncertain year
Dating AD 161/80
Obverse inscription ΚΡΕΙϹ]ΠΕΙΝΑΝ ϹΕΒ ΑΥΤ ΚΟΜΜΟΔΟΥ ϹΕΒ
Edition Κρεισπεῖναν Σεβ(αστήν) Αὐτ(οκράτορος) Κομμόδου Σεβ(αστοῦ)
Translation Crispina Augusta, wife of Emperor Commodus Augusta
Obverse design draped bust of Crispina, right
Reverse inscription [ ]
Edition [---]
Translation [---]
Reverse design two serpents facing each other (to left, Agathodaemon enfolding caduceus(?); to right, Uraeus enfolding sistrum(?))
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 29 mm
Average weight 9.12 g
Axis 12
Reference Milan SNG 1453
Specimens 3 (1 in the core collections)
Note SNG Milan 1453 notes probable traces of LΚ Α but these traces are not clear from the published image and might be misinterpretations of the traces of the caduceus and sistrum. This form of obverse titulature was normal for years 19 and 20 of Marcus, so this type may belong then. From year 21 (sole reign of Commodus) one would normally expect ΚΡΙϹΠƐΙΝΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, although the older form of titulature was carried over through re-use of an old die on some AE 23 of year 22. The reverse is close to the die used for hemidrachms of year 17 (AD 176/7) but that year is not possible for Crispina, who was married to Commodus only in the Summer of AD 178. It is possible that the old reverse die was reused with a recut date but the extant coins are too worn to allow the dies to be compared with any confidence.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     NY: 1944.100.61921
2 2     ✸ A: D 2295A / 3453
3 3     Milan SNG 1453