Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

Pergamon, Commodus, bronze coin — Artemis and Asclepius (CN type 17789)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. AD 180–182

Issuing entity

Mysia

Coin in bronze struck at Pergamon in Mysia under Commodus, dated c. AD 180–182. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 17789 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city (homonoia)).

Obverse: Laureate bust of lightly bearded Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤΟ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ. Reverse: Artemis and Asclepius; to left, Artemis standing, right, having quiver at shoulder, holding long torch; to right, Asclepius standing, left, holding long serpent-staff; serpent being fed by Artemis. Legend: ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡ ΠΙΟΥ ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΠΕΡΓΑΜΗΝΩΝ Κ ΕΦΕϹΙ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 38.57 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 41–44 mm (from 2 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. 11333; Franke and Nollé, Die Homonoia-Münzen Kleinasiens und der thrakischen Randgebiete, Saarbrücken 1997, p. 161f., nr. 31; Kampmann, Die Homonoia-Verbindungen der Stadt Pergamon, oder, Der Versuch einer kleinasiatischen Stadt unter römischer Herrschaft eigenständige Politik zu betreiben, Saarbrücken 1996, p. 106, nr. 33; Weisser, Die kaiserzeitliche Münzprägung von Pergamon, München 1995, nr. 10.5. T 1340; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
6
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

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

Historical context

Pergamon was an ancient Greek city in Aeolis that had served as the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon from 281 to 133 BC under the Attalid dynasty before becoming a major cultural centre in the Roman world. Commodus ruled as Roman emperor from 177 to 192, initially alongside his father Marcus Aurelius and then as sole emperor from 180, marking the end of the Pax Romana. This homonoia issue represents civic coin production by the city of Pergamon during the early years of Commodus's sole reign.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
41–44 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
38.57 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Pergamon
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City (Homonoia)
Issuing authority
Commodus

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of lightly bearded Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Artemis and Asclepius; to left, Artemis standing, right, having quiver at shoulder, holding long torch; to right, Asclepius standing, left, holding long serpent-staff; serpent being fed by Artemis
Obverse legend
ΑVΤΟ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡ ΠΙΟΥ ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΠΕΡΓΑΜΗΝΩΝ Κ ΕΦΕϹΙ

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/17789
Type corpus identifier
CN type 17789

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

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference