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Orbis Collectibles

Gargara, Commodus, bronze coin — Bull charging right (CN type 12195)

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 12195 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤΟ Κ Λ ΑV ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ. Reverse: Bull charging right. Legend: ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑΤΗΓΟV ΔΙΟΦΑΝΤΟV ΓΑΡΓΑΡΕΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 12.48 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 28–29 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). 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. 1795; Kraft, Das System der kaiserzeitlichen Münzprägung in Kleinasien: Materialien und Entwürfe, Berlin 1972, p. 187, nr. 12b, pl. 88, pic. 12b; Linked type corpus, RPC IV.2, 1795.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

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 region in Anatolia, initially situated beneath Mount Gargaron before moving to a nearby coastal plain. Commodus was Roman emperor from 177 to 192, reigning alone from 180 following the death of his father Marcus Aurelius. This civic bronze coin was struck at Gargara during his sole imperial reign.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
28–29 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
12.48 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
Bull charging right.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤΟ Κ Λ ΑV ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑΤΗΓΟV ΔΙΟΦΑΝΤΟV ΓΑΡΓΑΡΕΩΝ

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/12195
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12195

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

Research required

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