ROMAN EMPIRE. Crispina, 177-188. Aureus 180-183, Rome. Obv. CRISPINA AVGVSTA. Draped bust right. Rev. VENVS FELIX. Venus seated left. Calicó cf. 2377b. AU. 7.27 g. UNC
Ex. G. Sparkes collection, Sotheby's, Wilkinson & Hodge auction, 2-3 feb. 1880; Ex. J. G. Sandeman collection, Sotheby's auction, 13 jun. 1911, lot 568; Ex. Sir Arthur Evans collection, Ars Classica auction XVII, 3 oct. 1934, lot 876; Ex. Palombo auction 84, 13 dec. 2014, lot 84. 60'000 CHF + bp.; Ex. 51 Gallery auction, 29 apr. 2015, lot 91.
Extremely rare in this condition and virtually as struck. Crispina married Commodus at the age of thirteen, but the marriage proved sterile, to the point of causing a dynastic crisis. Unlike her sister-in-law Lucilla, she did not seem to have had any political influence over Commodus. Little is known about her banishment to the Isle of Capri in 188. Tradition suggests that the Empress was guilty of adultery.