Nomos 38

ARMENIA MINOR. Satala. Commodus, 177-192. Diassarion (Bronze, 22 mm, 5.28 g, 6 h). IMP CAES COMMODO AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus to right, seen from behind. Rev. LEG XV Triumphal arch with three openings, a higher central one, containing a legionary aquila, flanked by lower ones each containing a legionary standard; on the roof, male figure, his left arm raised in salute, standing facing in a biga with its horses prancing to left and right . Cf. M. Fox, Four 'New' Ancient Mints, The Numismatist, January 2025, (same obverse die, but this reverse type not published). Cm-C1a. RPC IV.3, ID 25490.2 (this coin). Extremely rare, the third, and best, example known. With a striking portrait of Commodus, a fascinating reverse, and attractive earthen highlights. Very fine.

From the Andranik collection.

Satala was a small town that was initially on the border between Lesser Armenia and Roman Asia Minor; it then was annexed by Vespasian. Trajan visited the town in 115 and made it a fortress/base for the Legio XV Apollinaris, which he had ordered moved from Pannonia. In 162, under Lucius Verus, the XVth took Artaxata, the capital of Armenia; in 175, during Avidius Cassius's revolt against Marcus Aurelius it remained loyal and was given the additional epithets, Pia Fidelis. Since the town's only known coinage was struck under Commodus (and oddly enough, instead of being inscribed with the city's name the coinage only bears the name of the XVth Legion), it seems likely that it is the Legion that was given coinage rights, perhaps in appreciation of the role it played under Marcus Aurelius (the present coin's reverse type must refer to the revolt's suppression). It is notable that all the reverse types used refer to the Legion, and are not really civic.