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Orbis Collectibles

Gargara, Commodus, bronze coin — Emperor in military attire riding right on horseback (CN type 12194)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 180–192

Issuing entity

Troas

Coin in bronze struck at Gargara in Troas under Commodus, dated AD 180–192. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12194 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ ϹЄΒ. Reverse: Emperor (Commodus) in military attire riding right on horseback, his right arm raised; in front, a male figure standing left, its right arm raised. Legend: ЄΠΙ ϹΤΡ ΔΙΟΔΟΡΟΥ (sic) ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΓΑΡΓΑΡЄΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 17.58 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 34 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).

Published references cited by the corpus: Babelon, Inventaire sommaire de la Collection Waddington, Paris 1898, nr. 790.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
3
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Gargara was an ancient Greek city located on the southern coast of the Troad in Anatolia, within the modern Ayvacık district of Çanakkale Province. This civic issue was struck during the sole reign of Commodus, who governed the Roman Empire from 180 until his assassination in 192 following the death of his father, Marcus Aurelius. Commodus's autocratic rule marked the final phase of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, during which local provincial cities continued producing civic coinage under Roman imperial authority.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
34 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
17.58 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Gargara
Region
Troas
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Commodus

Design

Obverse type
Laureate head of Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Emperor (Commodus) in military attire riding right on horseback, his right arm raised; in front, a male figure standing left, its right arm raised.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ ϹЄΒ
Reverse legend
ЄΠΙ ϹΤΡ ΔΙΟΔΟΡΟΥ (sic) ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΓΑΡΓΑΡЄΩΝ

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/12194
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12194

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
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. 790

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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