Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 234. Estimate CHF1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013.  Sold For CHF2300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Commodus. AD 177-192. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 30mm, 26.39 g 1), Rome, 192. L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL Bust of Commodus to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. HER-CVL / ROM-ANO / AV - GV/ S-C all within wreath. BMC 711. Cohen 192. RIC 637. With an attractive portrait and a black patina. Good very fine.

From a northern European collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59, 4 April 2011, 2034.

On this coin Commodus is shown in the guise of Hercules and is clear proof of the emperor’s ever-increasing madness: the fact that he wished himself to be portrayed on coins in this manner undoubtedly contributed to his assassination later in the year.