Commodus. Sestertius; Commodus; 177-192 AD, Rome, 192 AD, Sestertius, 19.17g. BM-701, C-576, RIC-611. Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL Head laureate r. Rx: P M TR P XVII IMP VIII [CO]S VII P P S C Securitas seated l. holding scepter and extending r. hand towards child before her representing the Human Race; star in r. field. The deity on reverse is traditionally described as Pietas but a recently discovered aureus which adds the descriptive legend SEC GEN HVM to the same type (Spink 65, 1988, 246, now coll. Ben Damsky) proves that she is actually Securitas and the child before her presumably the Human Race. Ex Gemini X, 13 January 2013, lot 577; with auction ticket.Struck on a broader flan than normal for Commodus, and with a rather sensitive portrait. Issued in the last year of his reign. EF
($1500)