Commodus: The young Co-Augustus

[Marcus]

Here a recent new acquisition (with quite a number of bidders...):

Commodus as Co-Augustus
October - 9 December 177

Obv:
L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM
laureate draped bust r.

Rev:
TR P II IMP II COS P P
Salus seated l. holding branch, snake before her

18mm, 3.27g
RIC 647, BMCRE 762, MIR 409-14/33, RSC 751, (4 in Reka Devnia)

This is part of a small emission between his second triumph and the third tribunician power, being also the last one with GERM SARM titles. This obverse legend (without IMP) is exclusive to this emission.

(The previous much more common emission, the first as Co-Augustus, lasted through spring and the whole summer of 177: IMP L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM - TR P II COS P P)

This is the 7th specimen known to me:

1. BM (is it https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces263325.html ? - not pictured on the BM website) 
2. wildwinds: https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/commodus/RIC_0647[aurelius].jpg

3.  -6. Reka Devnia (Sofia)

The two pictured ones share the same obverse die with mine.

There are also two specimens of that type with laureate head r. (Oxford, and a private collection).

The coins from this emission are scarce to extremely rare - like the Castor denarius (RIC-, RSC-, Cohen 753 (Vaillant and Mionnet)) which is still to emerge from an obscure collection somewhere - if it exists at all -, or the two aurei with only one (Juno Sospita) or two (Castor) specimens known.

The parallel equally smallish emission from Marcus Aurelius is TR P XXXI IMP VIIII (9) which shares with Commodus:
- the Vota Publica sestertius (RIC 1226 and RIC 1584), the type probably linked to a planned joint military campaign in 178, with coins for both also in the next emission (TR P III / TR P XXXII)
- as well as the Jupiter denarius (RIC 381 and RSC 751c, RIC - ). 

Please post any coins you have from that period!
 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Marcus

[Ryro]

Great portrait! I can see why there were a number of bidders. 

Here's my latest young Commodus. It's an incredibly rare MSC reverse that I shockingly, and happily, won at opening bid!

Reign: Marcus Aurelius Persons: Commodus (Caesar)

City: Koinon of Macedonia Region: Macedonia Province: Macedonia

Denomination: Æ Average weight: 5.63 g. Issue: 175-177

Obverse: [ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ?] ΚΑΙϹΑΡ; bare-headed bust of Commodus (youthful) wearing cuirass and paludamentum, r.

Reverse: ΚοΙΝοΝ ΜΑΚƐΔοΝⲰΝ (facing inward); Macedonian shield

Reference: AMNG 287 Specimens: 2

And the maniac a little later in his reign 

[shanxi]

Interesting how the emperor changes. From a young hopeful to a confused wreck.

My young Commodus:

Commodus
Denar, Rome
Obv.: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM, draped bust right from behind
Rev.: PRINC IVVENT, Commodus standing, head left, holding branch, reversed spear in left, trophy with shield.
Ag, 3.21g, 18x19mm
Ref.: RIC III M. Aurelius 616, RSC 609, Kamp. 41.14.

[Marsyas Mike]

3 hours ago, Marcus said:

Here a recent new acquisition (with quite a number of bidders...):

Commodus as Co-Augustus
October - 9 December 177

Obv:
L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM
laureate draped bust r.

Rev:
TR P II IMP II COS P P
Salus seated l. holding branch, snake before her

18mm, 3.27g
RIC 647, BMCRE 762, MIR 409-14/33, RSC 751, (4 in Reka Devnia)

This is part of a small emission between his second triumph and the third tribunician power, being also the last one with GERM SARM titles. This obverse legend (without IMP) is exclusive to this emission.

(The previous much more common emission, the first as Co-Augustus, lasted through spring and the whole summer of 177: IMP L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM - TR P II COS P P)

This is the 7th specimen known to me:

1. BM (is it https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces263325.html ? - not pictured on the BM website) 
2. wildwinds: https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/commodus/RIC_0647[aurelius].jpg

3.  -6. Reka Devnia (Sofia)

The two pictured ones share the same obverse die with mine.

There are also two specimens of that type with laureate head r. (Oxford, and a private collection).

The coins from this emission are scarce to extremely rare - like the Castor denarius (RIC-, RSC-, Cohen 753 (Vaillant and Mionnet)) which is still to emerge from an obscure collection somewhere - if it exists at all -, or the two aurei with only one (Juno Sospita) or two (Castor) specimens known.

The parallel equally smallish emission from Marcus Aurelius is TR P XXXI IMP VIIII (9) which shares with Commodus:
- the Vota Publica sestertius (RIC 1226 and RIC 1584), the type probably linked to a planned joint military campaign in 178, with coins for both also in the next emission (TR P III / TR P XXXII)
- as well as the Jupiter denarius (RIC 381 and RSC 751c, RIC - ). 

Please post any coins you have from that period!
 

Thank you for sharing this coin and the information - this kind of detailed information behind the emission is very interesting to me and you do a fine job of presenting it here.  Please feel free to continue to do so with other Commodus/Marcus Aurelius issues (hint hint! 😀)

I don't have any coins from this issue, but I do have a sestertius from what I think is from "the previous, much more common emission" of 177 A.D.  Your post inspired me to look it over and check my attribution from 2020 when I first got it (which was wrong).  There are a lot of these trophy-2-captives types and I was a little confused, since mine is so worn.  However, I found a British Museum die-match, which always pleases me, so I think I've got it straightened out:

Commodus Æ Sestertius (177 A.D.)  Rome Mint IM[P L A]VREL CO[M]MODVS AV[G GERM SARM], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / [TR P II COS P P, S-C] | [D]E GERM in exergue, two captives seated at foot of trophy. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1568; BMCRE 1654; Cohen RSC 84. (21.74 grams / 31 x 28 mm) eBay May 2020 Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: British Museum: BMCRE 1654; Museum number R.14800 (This is only OCRE example)

Here is the die-match to the British Museum specimen (if my eyes aren't deceiving me):  

 

Thanks again for the informative post, @Marcus.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Ursus]

Also 177 AD, but from the more common "TR P II COS PP" emission:

Commodus, Roman Empire, sestertius, 177 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP L AVREL COMMODVS AVG [GERM] SARM; laureate and draped bust of Commodus r. Rev: T[R P] II COS [P]P; pile of Germanic arms; in fields, S-C; in exergue, DE GERMANIS. 31mm, 21.84g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1570.

Edited September 12, 2023 by Ursus

[Dafydd]

Roman Imperial Coinage, Commodus (as Cæsar), As, Rome, 175-6, draped bust right, rev. priestly implements, 11.08g (RIC Marcus Aurelius 1539; BMC Marcus Aurelius 1533). Slightly weak on reverse, otherwise very fine, portrait better, attractive green patina. Ex Dix Noonan Webb.

I will endeavour to photograph my Commodus denarii.