Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 26 30 April 2016
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Commodus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 189. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate bust right / FORTVNAE MANENTI, Fortuna sitting left holding cornucopiae with left hand and restraining horse by the bridle with right; rudder behind, CVPP in exergue. RIC 191a; BMC 231. 2.64g, 18mm, 6h.
Very Fine. Rare.
This type suggests that Commodus paid his vows to Fortune under the surname of Manens; a superstition of which there are many other instances to be found amongst Roman writers. Fortuna manens is praised by Horace (L iii Ode 29) for one; the reason why the goddess, as in this coin, should be holding in the horse, seems obscure however. Perhaps it was because Fortune, who is here called manens, might have been the same as Fortuna equestris, to whom Fulvius Flaccus, after having by the strength of his cavalry forces defeated the Celtiberians, vowed to erect a temple, which Tacitus alludes to as standing near Antium.
Very Fine. Rare.
This type suggests that Commodus paid his vows to Fortune under the surname of Manens; a superstition of which there are many other instances to be found amongst Roman writers. Fortuna manens is praised by Horace (L iii Ode 29) for one; the reason why the goddess, as in this coin, should be holding in the horse, seems obscure however. Perhaps it was because Fortune, who is here called manens, might have been the same as Fortuna equestris, to whom Fulvius Flaccus, after having by the strength of his cavalry forces defeated the Celtiberians, vowed to erect a temple, which Tacitus alludes to as standing near Antium.