Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1499. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

COMMODUS. 177-192 AD. Æ Medallion (38mm, 52.02 g, 12h). Struck 182-183 AD. M • AVREL • COMMODVS ANTONINVS • AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / TR P VIII IMP V COS IIII P P, Commodus in military attire standing left, holding spear in left hand, right hand extended to receive wreath from Victory who is standing right. Gnecchi 150, pl. 88, 4 = Banti 227 (same dies); MIR 18, 1087-1/35; Grueber 6, pl. xxviii (same dies); Froehner p. 117; Tocci -; Dressel -; Toynbee -. VF, dark green, almost black, patina, light smoothing in fields. ($5000)

From the John F. Sullivan Collection. Ex Freeman & Sear 7 (22 February 2002), lot 494; Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 593.

In 182 AD, the Romans won a major campaign in Dacia, followed by an impressive victory in Britain in 183 AD. Both were commemorated on the coinage, and it is likely that such great successes in close proximity gave occasion to the striking of these medallions.