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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 2912002, member: 75937&quot;]In AD 180, Commodus returned from the Danubian front, an event which was celebrated numismatically by coins depicting Fortuna, Roma, trophies and captives, and an Adventus (Emperor&#039;s return) type. To celebrate, he issued a largess to the people -- his third -- an event commemorated by this Liberalitas type.</p><p><br /></p><p>Liberalitas means <i>generosity</i>, and it was considered a virtue in Roman society. The term was used to describe the generosity of the emperor whenever he issued a largess to the citizenry in the form of money, grain or other provisions. </p><p><br /></p><p>This virtue was personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which were cut a certain number of holes.&nbsp; These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or other items for distribution to each person. It appears they would be dipped into a container, covered with coins and the excess swept away back into the container. The proper number of coins would fill the holes and then would be dumped out to the recipient.&nbsp; On coins this symbol indicated the emperor had given money to the people. In the other hand she holds a cornucopiae, to indicate the abundance of the imperial treasury.</p><p><br /></p><p>I like this coin because Liberalitas is well-rendered; you can even count the coins on her counting board! </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]703293[/ATTACH]</p><p>Commodus, AD 177-192 </p><p>Roman AR denarius, 3.42 g, 18 mm </p><p>Rome, AD 180 </p><p>Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right </p><p>Rev: LIB AVG TR P V IMP IIII COS II P P, Liberalitas standing left, holding counting-board and cornucopiae </p><p>Refs: RIC 10; RSC 302; BMC 3; Szaivert 496/4.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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