Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIX 26-27 Mar 2020
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Commodus Æ Medallion. Rome, AD 192. M AELIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS AVG PIVS FELIX, laureate and cuirassed bust right, aegis on breastplate / PONTIF TR P II COS II, Geta standing to left, holding spear and parazonium, being crowned with wreath by Victory who stands behind; before, a trophy of arms with captives seated at base, Roma standing to left, head turned to right to face Geta, holding spear and shield. For obverse: Gnecchi 120, pl. 86, 1 (same obverse die); for similar reverse type cf. Gnecchi (Caracalla) 2, pl. 95, 3. 51.60g, 44mm, 4h.
Near Extremely Fine. Of significant numismatic and historical interest.
This remarkable medallion of Commodus was evidently modified some twenty years after being struck (circa AD 210 or later) to have its original obverse, which was almost certainly the Mars with Victory on column type, removed by being carefully hollowed out with a lathe. The reverse of a second medallion was then also modified, having its obverse shaved off, and was inset into the hollow of the first, with the whole then being silvered or tinned to create what must have been an impressive and beautiful object with a bright, reflective finish. Similarly modified medallions can be seen in the sales of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 7, 27-29 April 1987, lot 857 = Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, lot 727 and Bank Leu 30, 28 April 1982, lot 369. Both are medallions of Antinous that had a hollow interior which had been polished and silvered or tinned to form a compact box mirror.
The second medallion used for the reverse of the present piece must have originally been one of Geta, for this precise legend occurs only on his coinage, and a related medallion survives, struck for Caracalla, that depicts an emperor crowned by Victory in a near-identical manner, though the other details of the reverse differ. The present medallion is significant therefore in that it preserves the reverse of an otherwise lost medallion of Geta that must relate to victories achieved during the Severan campaign in Caledonia. This campaign, begun by Septimius in 208, was a slow and bloody affair with heavy Roman casualties; when command fell to Caracalla in early 210 the campaign devolved into a brutal and systematic attempt to exterminate all those tribes that refused to submit to Roman authority, and came to an end only when Septimius died due to illness thus requiring his sons Caracalla and Geta to turn their attention towards assuming the reins of government.
Near Extremely Fine. Of significant numismatic and historical interest.
This remarkable medallion of Commodus was evidently modified some twenty years after being struck (circa AD 210 or later) to have its original obverse, which was almost certainly the Mars with Victory on column type, removed by being carefully hollowed out with a lathe. The reverse of a second medallion was then also modified, having its obverse shaved off, and was inset into the hollow of the first, with the whole then being silvered or tinned to create what must have been an impressive and beautiful object with a bright, reflective finish. Similarly modified medallions can be seen in the sales of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 7, 27-29 April 1987, lot 857 = Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, lot 727 and Bank Leu 30, 28 April 1982, lot 369. Both are medallions of Antinous that had a hollow interior which had been polished and silvered or tinned to form a compact box mirror.
The second medallion used for the reverse of the present piece must have originally been one of Geta, for this precise legend occurs only on his coinage, and a related medallion survives, struck for Caracalla, that depicts an emperor crowned by Victory in a near-identical manner, though the other details of the reverse differ. The present medallion is significant therefore in that it preserves the reverse of an otherwise lost medallion of Geta that must relate to victories achieved during the Severan campaign in Caledonia. This campaign, begun by Septimius in 208, was a slow and bloody affair with heavy Roman casualties; when command fell to Caracalla in early 210 the campaign devolved into a brutal and systematic attempt to exterminate all those tribes that refused to submit to Roman authority, and came to an end only when Septimius died due to illness thus requiring his sons Caracalla and Geta to turn their attention towards assuming the reins of government.