Commodus Medallion: Roman Piece or a Later Cast?

I picked up a Commodus medallion from a recent (October 2021) Kölner Münzkabinett auction. The medallion commemorates the marriage of Commodus and Crispina. Since I am interested in the history of Faustina and her family, it is a nice piece to acquire. Here is the piece.

However, I wonder whether this medallion was made during Roman time, or if it is a later cast (something like 15th or 19th century).

The Kölner Münzkabinett item description is as follows:

Commodus mit Crispina, 177-182 n. Chr. AE-Guss-Medaillon Auf die Hochzeit, Vs.: CRISPINA AVGVSTA - IMP .COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, Büsten der Crispina und des Commodus einander gegenüber, Rs.: VOTA PVBLICA, DivaFaustina (Iuno pronuba) behütet Brautpaar (Sohn und Schwiegertochter) beim Handschlag Gnecchi II 72, 3 Taf. 91, 8 (nur 1Stück, in Madrid, stempelgleich, 47,2g) = Basel, All'antica, 206 erwähnt; Dressel -; Toynbee -. 48.40 g. R schwarzbraunePatina, ss/s-ss

Der weitaus häufigere Typ hat AVG statt AVGVSTA: Gnecchi II 72, 2 Taf. 91, 9; Szaifert, MIR 18, 185, 1078 Rs. Taf. 21, 72.Die Prinzenhochzeit fand im Sommer 178 n. Chr. statt. Commodus, geboren am 31. August 161 n. Chr. in Lanuvium, wardamals 17 Jahre alt, das Alter der Bruttia Crispina ist unbekannt. Die Vorderseite des Medaillons wurde in Byzantion zitiert,in der Emission des Ailios Pontikos Heros (Schönert-Geiss, Byzantion II, 62f, 1448-1455 Taf. 76; Varbanov 1719-1726).


Since I do not know German, I use Google translate. There is no mentioning of "15th or 19th century" in the paragraphs. The only time period mentioned is "177-182 AD". So, I assume it is ancient. However, there is a phrase in the beginning that troubles me. It says: “AE-Guss-Medaillon”, which Google translates to “AE CAST Medallion”.

This makes me wonder if the piece is an authentic Roman item, or it is a later cast. Luckily, the piece is inexpensive, so I feel OK whichever way it turns out to be.

Many thanks in advance for your comments.

 

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If that piece cost less than thousands of dollars, it is modern and the other bidders knew it. Ancient medallions are expensive.

 

It's a modern cast, but still very nice. I would be happy to own it.

 

For comparison, here are a couple of examples found...


British museum:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1846-0910-250




ForumAncientCoins:


SH34908. Bronze medallion, Gnecchi II, p. 72, 2 and Pl 91, 9 (same dies); Göbl MIR 1078; Cohen III 3, Fine/Fair, weight 41.742 g, maximum diameter 35.7 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 177 A.D.; obverse IMP COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM CRISPINA AVG, draped bust of Crispina right facing laureate and draped bust of young Commodus left; reverse VOTA PVBLICA, Commodus (on left) and Crispina (on right, veiled) standing confronted, clasping hands, Concordia stands behind them in the center with her arms around their shoulders; ex Spink; SOLD


Bertolami Fine Arts sold this (listed as Paduan):

Paduan Medals, Commodus and Crispina (177-192). Æ Medallion (38mm, 36.40g, 12h). Later strike. Draped busts of Crispina l. and Commodus r. vis-à-vis. R/ VOTA PVBLICA, Iuno Pronuba, standing facing in background, bringing bride and bridegroom together. Brown patina, VF


EDIT: (Another Paduan sold recently by Roma)

Commodus, with Crispina, Æ Cast Paduan Medallion. Unknown maker, circa 16th-19th century AD. IMP COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM CRISPINA AVG, draped bust of Crispina right, facing laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus left / VOTA PVBLICA, Juno Pronuba standing facing between Commodus, standing right, clasping hands with Crispina, standing left. HMB II.36 var. (obv. legend); for prototype, Gnecchi II 3. 24.55g, 37mm, 6h.

 

Thanks for your additional info, @Valentinian. Reminds me of the hammer price of the Gordian medallion CT post a few days earlier.

Thanks, John.

Thanks for the comparison information. The Roman pieces do have a different feel.