RPC IV.4, 3577

 

Image of specimen #1

 

Coin type
Volume IV.4
Number 3577
Province Egypt
Region Egypt
City Alexandria
Reign Commodus
Person (obv.) Commodus (Augustus)
Issue Uncertain year
Dating AD 177/92
Obverse inscription Μ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟ]ΜΜ[Ο?] ΑΝ[ΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹΕ (?)
Obverse design laureate-headed bust of Commodus wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right, seen from front
Reverse inscription [ ]
Reverse design Ares in military dress, wearing crested helmet, standing, facing, head, left, holding spear and parazonium
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 28 mm
Axis 12
Specimens 2 (2 in the core collections)
Die-links 1–2: same rev. die.
Note The date is illegible and the obverse inscription uncertain. This type is hard to place given the variety in the early portraits of Commodus. The portrait is clearly bearded. Commodus is still unbearded on the issues of year 19. Presumably the type belongs between years 19 and 25, when there are parallels for this style of portrait and for the obverse legend (if correctly restored, which is not certain). Ares had been used as type for the AE 27 denomination under Domitian (nome), Hadrian, and Pius. Ares(?) appears on other denominations under Commodus, in various modes, in years 22, 23, and 25. The representation here is similar to that of Onuris-Shu/Ares of the Sebennyte nome (cf. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/23076).

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     ✸ B: (Cassel 1925)
2 2     NY: 1944.100.61916