Commodus Presides at his First Liberalitas

CNG 100, Lot: 1907. Estimate $30000. Sold for $32500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Commodus. As Caesar, AD 166-177. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.02 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius, AD 175. COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM, bareheaded and draped bust right / LIBERALITAS • AVG, Commodus, togate, seated left on curule chair, set on platform, extending right hand, left at side; to left, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopia; on ground, citizen, togate, standing right, left foot on steps, holding out fold of toga in both hands. RIC III 597 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 304-12/13, pl. 2 (same obv. die); Calicó 2274 (same dies); BMCRE 635 (Aurelius and Commodus), pl. 66, 4 (same rev. die); Biaggi –. EF, lustrous. Struck with dies of artistic merit. Very rare, and from the first issue to feature the portrait of Commodus.