Commodus RIC 126 variant

[AquilaSPQR]

I'd like to ask you about this denarius. I have only RIC catalogue and it seems it's an unpublished in that catalogue variant of number 126. Typical 126 has M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT while this one has slightly different one: M COMM ANT FEL AVG P BRIT.

From what I've seen this AVG P BRIT legend is more rare than the P FEL one. Is it true? Is such denarius present in other, newer catalogues I don't have? I'd be very gracious for any additional information.

[curtislclay]

Does your rev. legend definitely end COS V P P, RIC 126?

Or could it be COS IIII P P, RIC 107, a year earlier?

M COMM ANT FEL AVG P BRIT is certainly a rare obv. legend variant. I have recorded it in both of the two years in question, 185 and 186, though not yet with the CONC MIL rev. type.

[AquilaSPQR]

The coin is not mine (unfortunately ) - but I think you're right - it indeed seems to have COS IIII on it. But still it seems it's variant unrecognized by RIC.

Can we estimate the rarity of this type? I think we can at least safely say it's no less than RIC's "R", am I right?

[curtislclay]

Certainly this obv. legend is rare to very rare; combined with CONC MIL rev. type this may be the only spec. so far recorded.

However there are few specialized collectors who will pay attention to such minor varieties; and the worn condition of this example means that its commercial value is quite low.

[AquilaSPQR]

Wow, the only one so far recorded - that's an amazing possibility. And I can assure you that the owner does not think about sellling it - he's a collector and so far refused to part with any of his coins We are only interested in the coin's history, in learning more about them - not in selling them.