Experts in Coins & Medals

Commodus, 177-192. Medallion (Bimetallic, copper and orichalcum, 41 mm, 75.54 g, 12 h), Rome, 192. L AELIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS AVG PIVS FELIX Head of Commodus to right, wearing the lion skin headdress of Hercules. Rev. HERC ROM CONDITORI P M T-R P XVIII / COS VII P P Nude figure of Hercules, but with the features of Commodus, walking to left, lionskin over his left shoulder, holding club with his left hand and the reins of a plough drawn by two oxen to left. Banti 90. Cohen 185. Gnecchi II 23, pl. 79, 7. MIR 1162. Rare. A medallion of fine style, fully illustrating the megalomania that gripped Commodus in his final years. With a 'Tiber' patina. Rough and corroded surfaces with minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Laodikeia ad Mare. Pseudo-autonomous issue, circa 2nd century AD. (Bronze, 17 mm, 4.38 g, 12 h). ΙΟΥΛ[ΙΕⲰΝ Τ]ⲰΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕⲰΝ Draped bust of youthful Dionysus, wearing ivy wreath, to right, thyrsus. Rev. Demeter standing left, holding long torch in left hand and corn-ears in right, monogram ΠΤ. RPC IV.3, 6797 ID (temporary). Extremely rare. The second, and perhaps, finest known. No examples in Coinarchives and none other in private hands. Nearly very fine.