Lots of rotten luck this time around on Agora Auctions. All my Roman Republic bids were surpassed, and the last one which I thought for sure would be mine, ended up getting Clio'd with 2 seconds remaining. I did Clio this though off of someone else's hands with 1 second remaining, and I know he was watching me do it live, because he Clio'd someone else just before I Clio'd him. I think with auction fees and shipping, this will come out to $98, which i think is reasonable given the superb portrait of Commodus. So it's not the prettiest coin, edges a little ragged, some deposits on the reverse, and the reverse being struck with worn dies approaching the end of their lives, but I think the portrait is pleasant enough to forgive any shortcomings the coin may have. And if you were the person I Clio'd with 1 second remaining...I'm sorry. I didn't recognize anyone from this forum based on the bidder's handle, but you never know. What is this world coming to when a Clio gets Clio'd? I don't know, but it sure made me feel better about the rotten luck I've been having. Lot 59-202. Commodus. A.D. 177-192. AR denarius. Rome mint, struck A.D. 179. Commodus. A.D. 177-192. AR denarius (18.0 mm, 3.47 g, 12 h). Rome mint, struck A.D. 179. L AVREL COMMODVS AVG, laureate head right / TR P IIII IMP III COS II P P, Victory seated left, holding patera and palm. RIC 666; BMCRE 801; RSC 775.
It's fair enough considering I really needed a Commodus. I'm collecting at least one silver of all the commonly available emperors for my general collection, and he was one of the ones that was missing. Once I'm done with this goal, I may take some time to specialize on one or two emperors for a while. We'll see. I think Caracalla is one of the ones I may specialize in, so buy all the silver issues of him while you can, because when I decide to go heavily after him I won't show any mercy to anyone at auction.
Really? I've always thought Commodus was just a misunderstood young man, kind of like Caracalla. Maybe I have a thing for tyrants?
I was surprised to see so many eager bidders. Some lots went for far more than I'd figure they'd sell, considering it's Agora. The wallets definitely came out in full force at this auction.
I think he might have been a lawyer, but, I don't know that for sure. I know he was kinda crazy. He even dressed like a lawyer ready to plead his case. Naked with only a lion skin. Hmmm
I like it! I like the youthful, clean-cut bust and good reverse style, complete legends despite a slight weakness at 3 o'clock on the reverse. Nice coin!
Nice coin! I like the portrait and full legends on the obverse. The seated victory is nice too...just wish it had little more detail...but for the price it very nice. Congrats.
Sure, it would be nice to have a victory with as much detail as the one on my Maximinus Thrax denarius However, the reason I bought this Commodus was that I simply liked the portrait style. I don't need all my coins to be perfect. I'm willing to buy a coin with weak strikes on one of the sides, or some off-centering, or some other minor flaw, if there is something about that particular coin that calls my attention. In this case, I don't have a Commodus, and the particular portrait on this one called my attention enough to want it. So I bid on it. The only thing I might change is giving it a little soak in acetone to see if the small deposits on the reverse fall off. Other than that I'd leave it as is. I'm sure I'll add a higher end Commodus in due time, but I'm pretty satisfied having this one in my collection.
