First Depiction of Three Monetae

Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1083. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $2280. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (28.63 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck AD 187. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on shoulder / Three Monetae standing left, each holding scale and cornucopia. RIC III 500 var. (no drapery); MIR 18, 724-6/30; Banti 221 var. (same). Good VF, dark brown patina, traces of smoothing. An impressive coin on a round flan. Rare.

Although common on medallions of the 3rd century, depictions of the Three Monetae are infrequent on coinage. The coin offered here is the earliest depiction of them.