Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 98 6-7 Jun 2017
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Commodus. Æ Medallion 38 mm (51.05 g), AD 177-192. Rome, AD 177. IMP CAES L AVREL COM-MODVS GERM SARM, laureate half-length bust of Commodus right, wearing aegis. Reverse: TR POT COS in exergue, Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, each holding eagle-tipped scepter, driving triumphal quadriga left; to left, soldier advancing right, head turned to look back, leading the horses; above, Nike flying left, head right, holding eagle perched on arm. Gnecchi p. 67, 139, pl. 87, 6. Dark green patina. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $5,000 - UP
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection; Ex Lanz 28 (7 May 1984), 576.
This remarkable medallion commemorates the joint triumph celebrated by Commodus together with his father, Marcus Aurelius, on December 23, AD 176, for victories won over the German tribes in the long Marcomannic Wars (AD 166-180). On this occasion, father and son rode together in the triumphal chariot as depicted on the reverse and Commodus was granted tribunician power. On January 1, 177, despite his youth (he was 15 at the time), Commodus became consul for the first time. As the medallion includes both the tribunician and consular titles on the reverse, it must have been struck after the beginning of 177. The obverse portrait of Commodus is notable because it does not depict him wearing the consular robes one might expect from the reverse type and historical context, but instead he wears a long, scaly aegis. This peculiar garment does not connect him to the triumphant imperial dynasties of Rome, but rather to Alexander the Great, a conqueror admired by many emperors. A popular Hellenistic statue type had been the Alexander Aigiochos ("Alexander wearing the aegis") and here we have an updated Roman version - Commodus Aigiochos.
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection; Ex Lanz 28 (7 May 1984), 576.
This remarkable medallion commemorates the joint triumph celebrated by Commodus together with his father, Marcus Aurelius, on December 23, AD 176, for victories won over the German tribes in the long Marcomannic Wars (AD 166-180). On this occasion, father and son rode together in the triumphal chariot as depicted on the reverse and Commodus was granted tribunician power. On January 1, 177, despite his youth (he was 15 at the time), Commodus became consul for the first time. As the medallion includes both the tribunician and consular titles on the reverse, it must have been struck after the beginning of 177. The obverse portrait of Commodus is notable because it does not depict him wearing the consular robes one might expect from the reverse type and historical context, but instead he wears a long, scaly aegis. This peculiar garment does not connect him to the triumphant imperial dynasties of Rome, but rather to Alexander the Great, a conqueror admired by many emperors. A popular Hellenistic statue type had been the Alexander Aigiochos ("Alexander wearing the aegis") and here we have an updated Roman version - Commodus Aigiochos.