RPC IV.4, 3345

 

Image of specimen #2

 

Coin type
Volume IV.4
Number 3345
Province Egypt
Region Egypt
City Alexandria
Reign Marcus Aurelius
Person (obv.) Commodus (Augustus)
Issue Year ΙΘ = 19
Dating AD 178/9
Obverse inscription Λ] ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΚΟΜΜΟΔΟϹ ϹΕΒ Β ΥΠΑΤ
Obverse design bare-headed bust of Commodus (youthful) wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right, seen from rear
Reverse inscription L ΙΘ
Reverse design Selene(?), crowned with crescent(?), in galloping quadriga, left, raising hand, holding torch(?)
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 33 mm
Axis 12
Reference DS 9542, Geissen 2201
Specimens 2 (0 in the core collections)
Die-links 1: same obv. die as 3343/1. 1–2: same rev. die as 3341/1.
Note The raised hand and galloping quadriga is normally associated with Helios but may perhaps have been used for Selene by extension. The identification as Selene, suggested by Keith Emmett, rests on the apparent crescent on the head of the driver, which is clearest on the rubbing in DS and more or less visible on Geissen 2201. For Selena in a biga of horses: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/25598.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     Cologne Geissen 2201
2 2     ✸ DS 8542