Triton XX, Lot: 773. Estimate $15000. Sold for $9000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Commodus. AD 177-192. Bimetallic Medallion (41mm, 74.45 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 192. L AELIVS AVRELIVS COMMO–DVS AVG PIVS FELIX, COS VII P P in exergue, jugate heads of Commodus, laureate and radiate, and female (Roma?), wearing necklace and Attic helmet with plume emerging from dog; Amazonian shield (pelta) to lower right / P M T–R P XVII IMP VIII, Commodus, holding patera over tripod in right hand and volumen in left, standing left, facing Felicitas standing facing, head right, holding long caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left; to left, youthful victimarius standing right, holding sacrificial ax in right hand and rope with which he leads bull in left. Gnecchi pl. 85, 7/9-10 (for obv./rev. die); cf. MIR 18, 1150 and 1153 (for rev.); cf. Banti 314 (for rev.); NAC 29, lot 560 (same dies). VF, green and brown patina, light roughness in fields. Extremely rare, possibly only the second known specimen to combine this obverse and reverse type.

Ex Gemini VI (10 January 2010), lot 454.

This remarkable obverse has been the cause of debate. The pelta, a distinctively Amazonian shield, has long led some to identify the female figure as Marcia, Commodus’ concubine and trusted companion whom, we are told, the emperor loved to see dressed as an Amazon (SHA, Commodus 12.1). The idea that Marcia – who was involved in the assassination of Commodus – should appear on a medallion of the emperor struck the year of his death has incredible historical and emotional appeal, and prominent 20th century scholars like Harold Mattingly and Jocelyn Toynbee accepted the identification. Others have discounted this fantastic claim, questioning the likelihood of a mistress with no official role or titles making an appearance on medallions.

Dressel has argued that the pelta could be an attribute of Commodus rather than the female figure. “Amazonius” was one of the many titles the crazed emperor bestowed on himself late in his reign (when Commodus renamed the months of the year, March became “Amazonius”). A similar obverse type also from AD 192 has jugate busts of Commodus and a female figure wearing a helmet and cuirass, normally identified as Minerva. It is possible that the current obverse depicts Roma, as there is some evidence that Roma and Minerva were favored deities of the emperor.