Topeiros, Commodus, 4 unit — Heracles seated left on rock covered with lion skin (CN type 11995)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 186
Issuing entity
Thrace4 unit in bronze struck at Topeiros in Thrace under Commodus, dated AD 186. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 11995 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus, right. Legend: ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ. Reverse: Heracles seated left on rock covered with lion skin, holding club in right hand, left resting on rock. Legend: ЄΠΙ ΚΑΙΚΙ ϹЄΡΒЄΙΛΙ ΤΟΠЄΙΡЄΙΤωΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 10.42 g (mean of 8 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 22–25 mm (from 8 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Heuchert, RPC IV: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. IV: From Antoninus Pius to Commodus (AD 138–192). online (temporary), http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/, nr. 3619; Linked type corpus, RPC IV.1, 3619.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 3
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 2
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Commodus ruled as Roman emperor from 177 to 192, initially serving alongside his father Marcus Aurelius and then governing alone from 180 until his assassination in 192. His sole reign, often viewed as marking the close of the Pax Romana, was characterised by internal intrigues and a dictatorial style of leadership in which administrative duties were delegated to palace favourites and praetorian prefects. This civic bronze issue was struck under Commodus in AD 186 by the city of Topeiros in Thrace.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- 4 unit
- Recorded diameter
- 22–25 mm (from 8 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 10.42 g (mean of 8 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Topeiros
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Commodus
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate head of Commodus, right.
- Reverse type
- Heracles seated left on rock covered with lion skin, holding club in right hand, left resting on rock.
- Obverse legend
- ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ЄΠΙ ΚΑΙΚΙ ϹЄΡΒЄΙΛΙ ΤΟΠЄΙΡЄΙΤωΝ
Identification
- Period
- Roman Imperial Period
- How to identify
- Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/11995
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 11995
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 3619
- external concordanceRPC IV.1, 3619
Research required
- No rights-cleared photograph attached yet