Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 194. Estimate CHF450.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Crispina. Augusta, AD 178-182. Denarius (Silver, 3.39 g 12), Rome, 180-182. CRISPINA AVGVSTA Draped bust of Crispina to right, her hair bound up at the back. Rev. VENVS Venus standing left, holding an apple in her right hand and gathering up her upper garment on to her left shoulder with her left. BMC 44 (Commodus). Cohen 35. RIC 286a (Commodus). Lustrous, beautifully centered and well-struck. Good extremely fine.

Crispina was the wife of Commodus and came from a consular family. Her father, Gaius Bruttius Praesens, was a distinguished senator and a friend of Marcus Aurelius and they undoubtedly decided that Crispina would be an excellent match for Commodus. Unfortunately, he apparently disliked her and after the conspiracy of Lucilla in 181/2, she was exiled and probably executed (coins in her honor cease to be issued in 182).