Early Roman Empire :|: Document

Commodus coin from Alexandria (var.1)

ref. : en.839.2008 |

26 August 2013 | by Francis Leveque
coins | End of IIe century AD
Alexandrie, Egypte (Basse Egypte) ( Egypte )

Bronze tetradrachm, 24 mm, 10.72 g.

Mint : Alexandria

Date : 188-189 AD

Recto :

M A KOM ANTω CЄB ЄVCЄB
Traduction : “M(arcus) A(urelius) KOM(modus) Anto(ninus) Seb(astou) Euseb(us)”, (Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Auguste Pieux)
Description : laureate head right

Verso :

L KΘ
Traduction : “L KΘ”, (date)
Description : Corbita under sail right; Pharus of Alexandria to left

Commentaire :

This coin was minted under Emperor Commodus (AD 177-192). The merchant ship is called Corbita. It does not have oars. Its square main sail is inflated. There are 3 stay cables, 2 forward, and one helmsman taking the rudder. The lighthouse is crowned with flames.

This copy is close to two other variants of Alexandria var. 0 and var. 2

Bibliography :

G. Dattari, Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Dattari), Le Caire , 1901, n° 3903

A. Geissen, Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln (Köln ), Cologne , 1974-83, n° 2243

K. Emmett, Alexandrian Coins (Emmett), Lodi , 2001, n° 2542.29

Ursula Kampmann ; Thomas Ganschow, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (K&G), Battenberg, Regenstauf , 2008, n° 41.113