Miletoupolis, Commodus, bronze coin — Nude Hermes seated left on rock (CN type 19824)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. AD 179–180
Issuing entity
MysiaCoin in bronze struck at Miletoupolis in Mysia under Commodus, dated c. AD 179–180. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 19824 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑV ΚΑΙ Λ ΑVΡΗΛΙ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ. Reverse: Nude Hermes seated left on rock, wearing petasus, holding caduceus in right hand, left resting on rock. Legend: ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑ ΕVΤVΧΟVϹ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟV ΜΕΙΛΗΤΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 24.09 g (mean of 3 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 36–38 mm (from 3 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Wroth, Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Mysia., London 1892, p. 93, nr. 14; Schwabacher, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum: the Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Copenhagen 1942, nr. 252; Levante, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. France. 5, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques. Mysie 5, Paris/Zürich 2001, nr. 1318; 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. 609; Schwertheim et al., Die Inschriften von Kyzikos und Umgebung. 2: Miletupolis. Inschriften und Denkmäler, Bonn 1983, p. 83, nr. 41; and further titles.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 7
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 6
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This coin was issued by the city of Miletoupolis in Mysia, an ancient town sited at modern Karacabey in Turkey. Commodus served as Roman emperor from 177 to 192, initially as co-emperor alongside his father Marcus Aurelius until the latter's death in 180, and subsequently as sole ruler. Dated to around AD 179–180, this issue was struck during Commodus's transition from joint rule to sole leadership.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 36–38 mm (from 3 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 24.09 g (mean of 3 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Miletoupolis
- Region
- Mysia
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Commodus
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of Commodus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
- Reverse type
- Nude Hermes seated left on rock, wearing petasus, holding caduceus in right hand, left resting on rock.
- Obverse legend
- ΑV ΚΑΙ Λ ΑVΡΗΛΙ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑ ΕVΤVΧΟVϹ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟV ΜΕΙΛΗΤΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ
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/19824
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 19824
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 bibliographyp. 93, nr. 14
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 252
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1318
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 609
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 83, nr. 41
- external concordance
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution