Watch List notes:

Commodus. AE 33 medallion; Commodus; 177-192 AD, Rome, 183 AD, Medallion, 48.00g. Gnecchi-148 (5 spec.); C-858 (300 Fr). Obv: M AVREL COMMODVS - ANTONINVS AVG Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed r., seen from front. Rx: [T]R P VIII IMP V / [COS IIII P P] in two lines in exergue, Roma seated r. holding scepter and Victory, facing Pax seated l. holding branch and cornucopia; behind and above Pax\'s legs, togate Commodus sacrificing l. from patera over tripod altar; above the altar, two musicians, one of them playing a flute. From the same die pair as three other illustrated specimens: two in Bologna, one of them framed, illustrated by Gnecchi, pl. 88.3 and pl. 90.2; and the third in Paris, illustrated by Cohen-858 from a Dardel drawingThis exceptional medallion, showing an exceptional portrait of the emperor Commodus, was purchased so encrusted that virtually none of the images on the reverse were visible. After being cleaned mechanically under a strong microscope for over a month, the excellent types which existed below the encrustation were revealed without any damage to any portion of the reverse, and showing no marks whatsoever of the restoration. gVF