Classical Numismatics Discussion Members' Coin Collection Photo Gallery

Image search results - "Nobilitas"

PHILIP I Antoninianus. 247 AD
22.5 mm, 3.6 grams

OBV: MP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
REV: NOBILITAS AVGG, Nobilitas standing right, holding sceptre and globe,  in left field.
RIC-IVc - 8

053 Geta (209-211 A.D.), Rome, RIC IV-I 013a, AR-Denarius, NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, #1053 Geta (209-211 A.D.), Rome, RIC IV-I 013a, AR-Denarius, NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, #1
avers: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Bare-headed, draped bust right.
reverse: NOBI LITAS, Nobilitas standing right holding scepter and palladium.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 17,5-18,5mm, weight: 3,26g, axis: 7h,
mint: Rome, date: 199 A.D.,
ref: RIC IV-I 013a, p-, RSC 90,
Q-001quadrans

053 Geta (209-211 A.D.), Rome, RIC IV-I 013a, AR-Denarius, NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, #2053 Geta (209-211 A.D.), Rome, RIC IV-I 013a, AR-Denarius, NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, #2
avers: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Bare-headed, draped bust right.
reverse: NOBI LITAS, Nobilitas standing right holding scepter and palladium.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 18,5-19,5mm, weight: 3,07g, axis: 1h,
mint: Rome, date: 199 A.D.,
ref: RIC IV-I 013a, p-, RSC 90,
Q-002quadrans

340. Severus Alexander / RIC 290Denarius, 222-223 AD, Antioch mint.
Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG / Laureate bust of Severus Alexander.
Rev: NOBILITAS / Nobilitas standing, holding long sceptre and Paladium.
3.98 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #290; Sear 7885.Callimachus

37-02 - COMODO (177 - 192 D.C.)AR Denario 17 mm 2.6 gr.

Anv: "M COMM ANT P FEL - AVG BRIT" - Busto laureado viendo a derecha.
Rev: "NOBILIT AVG P M TR P [X]I IMP VIII COS V P P" – Nobilitas (La Nobleza/Grandeza) de pié a derecha, portando un largo cetro en la mano derecha y estatua (Minerva?) en su mano izquierda extendida.

Cómodo, como parte de sus esfuerzos publicitarios, enfatizó su legitimidad para gobernar basado en su nobleza de nacimiento, después del fallido complot del 185 D.C. comandado por Sextus Tigidius Perennis, Prefecto de la Guardia Pretoriana (guardaespaldas imperiales romanos)..

Acuñada: 2da. Emisión 186 D.C.
Ceca: Roma
Rareza: S

Referencias: RIC Vol.III #139 Pag.381 - Sear RCTV Vol.II #5663 var (Leyenda reverso) Pag.388 - BMCRE Pag.726 nota - Cohen Vol.III #382 Pag.278 - RSC Vol. II #382 Pag.241 – DVM #51 Pag.161
mdelvalle

ANCIENT FORGERY -Dilver - Caracalla - NobilitasBearded Caracalla looking - apparently - clearly not ancient.
Obverse legend (probably intended as): ANTONINIVSPIVSAVG
Reverse legend (most likely): NOBILITAS
Reverse (again, probably): Nobilitas standing right, holding scepter and palladium, shield to right
(as per Aorta)

Above reflects the best, most likely attribution that I had but it did seem odd that the only attribution that I could come up with was for a 'Quinarius' as it's about the same size as my not-a-quinarius Elagabalus silver coin. I posted it in good faith thinking I'd done a good job to ID it given its condition. Below you can read the comments from other Forum members who told me it was most likely an ancient forgery.

It looks like that rather than go with a recognised, common coin that would stand out against the real thing, the forgers took a chance with a design known to be on the quinarius, but not on the denari. I suppose that they figured that folks would just assume that the mint was making denari with the same features as the quinarius (beared Caracalla, NOBILITAS etc) and not ask too many questions. OR, NOBILITAS was just the shortest reverse legend and the easiest picture to replicate. Why knows? A relic of the otherwise unpublished seedy underbelly of Rome... I like it. Hope you do to.
5 commentsBanjaxed

Antoninianus; NOBILITAS AVGG. RIC 8, officina ςPhilip I AR antoninianus. Rome 248 A.D. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, Radiate bust right / Nobilitas standing right holding scepter and globe. NOBILITAS AVGG. Greek letter officina mark ς (=6) in left field. RIC 8, Cohen 98. Sear RCV III: 8938. 1 commentsPodiceps

Cologne - 8e Emission - (mi-fin 273 - début 274) - NOBILITAS AVGGC PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES
NOBILITAS AVGG
EG 318
Cunetio 2656
RIC 244
Elmer cf 795
AGK 2
de Witte 34
Cohen 29PYL

Commodus 180 - 192 AD aw. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT
Head of Commodus, laureate, right
rew. NOBILIT AVG P M TR P XII IMP VIII COS V P P
Nobilitas, draped, standing right, holding sceptre in right hand and stattuette of Minerva in extended left hand
Ric 155
mint Rome , circa 186-187 ADWaldemar S

Commodus Sestertius NobilitasObv.
A COMMODVS ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT P D
Laureate head right

Rev.
NOBILITAS AVG P M TR P XI IMP VIII COS V P P
SC
Nobilitas, draped, standing right, holding sceptre in right hand and palladium in left hand
1 commentsancientdave

Commodus, RIC 501, Sestertius of AD 187 (Nobilitas)Æ Sestertius (27.83g, Ø32.5mm, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 187.
Obv.: M COMMODVS ANT·P FELIX AVG BRIT, laureate head right.
Rev.: NOBILITAS AVG P M TR P XII·IMP VIII COS V P P (around) S C (in field), Nobilitas draped, standing right holding long sceptre and Palladium on extended left hand.

RIC 501; Cohen 381 (6 Fr.); BMC 594; Sear 5772

ex cgb.fr (2014); ex coll. Prof. M.CaselliCharles S

CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C (the 2nd) / GLORIA EXERCITVS AE3 follis (317-337 A.D.) CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate, cuirassed bust right / GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers facing each other, holding spears and shields, with one standard between them, devices on banners not very clear, but probably dots or "o". Mintmark: Epsilon SIS in exergue.

AE3, 18-19mm, 1.65g, die axis 2 (turned medal alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy

IVN = IVNIOR = Junior, NOB C = Nobilitas Caesar, Gloria Exercitus (noun + genitive) "The Glory of the Army", officina Epsilon (workshop #5), SIScia mint (now Sisak, Croatia).

Siscia mint combined with two standards and IVN NOB C variety points to only two types, RIC VII Siscia 220 and RIC VII Siscia 236, both of Constantine II, with possible officinas A, delta, gamma and epsilon. So even though the name is not very clear and theoretically the officina letter may be B rather than E, we can be sure that it is Constantine and that officina is E. Type 236 should have dots before and after the
mintmark, and it doesn't seem the case here, so this must be RIC VII Siscia 220, officina epsilon. Minting dates according to some sources: 330-335 AD.

Flavius Claudius Constantinus Augustus, born January/February 316, was the elder son if Constantine the Great and his second wife Fausta. Constantine II was born in Arles (south of modern France) and raised a Christian. On 1 March 317, he was made Caesar. A child general: in 323, at the age of seven, he took part in his father's campaign against the Sarmatians. At age ten, he became commander of Gaul, following the death of Crispus. An inscription dating to 330 records the title of Alamannicus, so it is probable that his generals won a victory over the Alamanni. His military career continued when Constantine I made him field commander during the 332 campaign against the Goths.

Following the death of his father in 337, Constantine II initially became augustus jointly with his brothers Constantius II and Constans, with the Empire divided between them and their cousins, the Caesars Dalmatius and Hannibalianus. This arrangement barely survived Constantine I’s death, as his sons arranged the slaughter of most of the rest of the family by the army. As a result, the three brothers gathered together in Pannonia and there, on 9 September 337, divided the Roman world between themselves. Constantine, proclaimed Augustus by the troops received Gaul, Britannia and Hispania. He was soon involved in the struggle between factions rupturing the unity of the Christian Church. The Western portion of the Empire, under the influence of the Popes in Rome, favored Catholicism (Nicean Orthodoxy) over Arianism, and through their intercession they convinced Constantine to free Athanasius, allowing him to return to Alexandria. This action aggravated Constantius II, who was a committed supporter of Arianism.

Constantine was initially the guardian of his younger brother Constans, whose portion of the empire was Italia, Africa and Illyricum. Constantine soon complained that he had not received the amount of territory that was his due as the eldest son. Annoyed that Constans had received Thrace and Macedonia after the death of Dalmatius, Constantine demanded that Constans hand over the African provinces, to which he agreed in order to maintain a fragile peace. Soon, however, they began quarreling over which parts of the African provinces belonged to Carthage, and thus to Constantine, and which belonged to Italy, and therefore to Constans. Further complications arose when Constans came of age and Constantine, who had grown accustomed to dominating his younger brother, would not relinquish the guardianship. In 340 Constantine marched into Italy at the head of his troops. Constans, at that time in Dacia, detached and sent a select and disciplined body of his Illyrian troops, stating that he would follow them in person with the remainder of his forces. Constantine was engaged in military operations and was killed in an ambush outside Aquileia. Constans then took control of his deceased brother's realm.Yurii P

Denarius; NOBILITAS, RIC 13aGeta as Caesar Denarius. 20mm, 3.1g. P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, draped bust right / NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and palladium. RIC 13a, BMC 223, RSC 90, Sear RCV II: 7184.Podiceps

EB0492 Geta / NobilitasGeta, AR Denarius, 199-202 AD
Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Draped bust right.
Rev: NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, holding sceptre in right hand and palladium in extended left hand.
References:RIC IV 13a.
Diameter: 19.5mm, Weight: 3.26 grams.EB

EB0822 Philip I / NobilitasPhilip I 244-249, AR Antoninianus, Rome 248-249.
Obverse: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: NOBILITAS AVGG, Nobilitas standing right, holding sceptre and globe.
References: RIC 8; Cohen 98.
Diameter: 22mm, Weight: 3.957g.EB

FL CONSTANS NOB CAES / GLORIA EXERCITVS AE3/4 follis (333-350 A.D.) FL CONSTANS NOB CAES, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / GLORI-A EXER-CITVS, two soldiers holding spears and shields with one standard between them, dot inside o on banner. Mintmark: SMT(SΔ) in exergue.

AE3/4, 16-17mm, 1.16g, die axis 6 (coin alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy.

FL = Flavius, NOB CAES = Nobilitas Caesar, Gloria Exercitus (noun + genitive) The Glory of the Army, SMTSΔ = Sacra Moneta Thessalonica, officina #4

Although only a part of the obverse legend is readable: FL CONSTANS...AES, reconstructing the rest is easy. And FL CONSTANS NOB CAES is not a very common legend, so that despite the fact that only the first letters of the mintmark are clearly identifiable: SMT..., it produces only one hit in the catalogs: RIC VII Thessalonica 226 with the mintmark SMTSΔ.

WildWinds have a good example of it: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constans/_thessalonica_RIC_VII_226.jpg I think the style matches, with the same weird little device on the banner and exactly the same cuirass type. Too bad that the face on my coin is too damaged to see if it is really as strange-looking, but its outline seems to match. The notes indicate that it was minted in 335-341 A.D., which is a bit weird, because after 337 A.D. the usage of the Caesar title for Constans should have been discontinued...

Constans (caesar 333- , augustus 337-350), , see more info at
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-147486 Yurii P

FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C (the 2nd) / GLORIA EXERCITVS AE4 follis (324-361 A.D.) FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers facing each other, holding spears and shields, with one standard between them, large filled "dot" on banner. Mintmark: dot AQP in exergue.

AE4, 16+mm, 1.53g, die axis 6 (coin alignment), noticeable shift of the reverse die right, material: bronze/copper-based alloy

FL IVL = Flavius Iulius (the first names), NOB C = Nobilitas Caesar (title before becoming an Augustus, i. e. after he ascended as Caesar in 324, but before the death of his father in 337), Gloria Exercitus (noun + genitive) "The Glory of the Army" AQP = Aquileia mint, primary officina (workshop #1), issue mark "dot".

Mintmark dot AQP points to just one type, RIC VII Aquileia 145, and clears the possible misreading of the end of the obverse legend: it is indeed ...NOB C, not AVG. Strangely though the mint years listed are 337-361, after the ascension as Augustus. A clear example of this type can be seen at WildWinds, and features the same huge filled "dot" as in my coin: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantius_II/_aquileia_RIC_VII_145_P.jpg

There is also an example in this gallery with roughly the same obverse and reverse style:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-126821

Flavius Julius Constantius Augustus, born 7 August 317, was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361 (caesar to his father in 324-337). The middle and most successful son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death. In 340, Constantius' brothers clashed over the western provinces of the empire. The resulting conflict left Constantine II dead and Constans as ruler of the west until he was overthrown and assassinated in 350 by the usurper Magnentius. Unwilling to accept Magnentius as co-ruler, Constantius defeated him at the battles of Mursa Major and Mons Seleucus. Magnentius committed suicide after the latter battle, leaving Constantius as the sole ruler of the empire. His subsequent military campaigns against Germanic tribes were successful: he defeated the Alamanni in 354 and campaigned across the Danube against the Quadi and Sarmatians in 357. In contrast, the war in the east against the Sassanids continued with mixed results.

He was an Arian and clashed with his brother Constans (who was a devote Nicene Orthodox) over this. Subsequently he changed his position somewhat, trying to find a compromise between the two Christian denominations, and subscribed to a milder version of Arianism later known as "Semi-Arianism". In 351, due to the difficulty of managing the empire alone, Constantius elevated his cousin Constantius Gallus to the subordinate rank of Caesar, but had him executed three years later after receiving scathing reports of his violent and corrupt nature. Shortly thereafter, in 355, Constantius promoted his last surviving cousin, Gallus' younger half-brother, Julian, to the rank of Caesar. However, Julian claimed the rank of Augustus in 360, leading to war between the two. Ultimately, no battle was fought as Constantius became ill and died on 3 November 361, though not before naming Julian (of the apostasy infamy) as his successor.Yurii P

Galerius Concordia Militum Ӕ post-reform radiate fraction (295 - 299), Cyzicus mintGAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, radiate, draped (?) and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA MI-LITVM + KB in lower centre, Prince (the left figure) standing right in military dress, holding parazonium or baton of imperium, receiving small Victory with a wreath and palm branch on globe from naked Jupiter (the right figure) standing left holding tall scepter.

Ó”, 20mm, 2.36g, die axis 6h, base metal seems red, high copper content.

Galerius ruled as Caesar from 293 to 305, but most sources give minting years for this type of coin as 295-299.

RIC VI Cyzicus 19b (18b?), Sear 3713. 19b has cuirassed and draped bust, 18b -- only cuirassed. I think the edge of the military cape on the shoulder means it is draped in this case, but distinction seems very vague to me. Looking at coins identified as 18b and 19b I cannot see any clear pattern, it seems that many are confused in this respect just like myself.

GALerius VALerius MAXIMIANUS NOBilitas CAESar (in this era the title of "junior" emperor while Augustus was a "senior" one), CONCORDIA MILITVM = [Dedicated to] harmony with the soldiers, K = Kysikos (Cyzicus) mint, B = officina Beta (workshop #2). The figure to the right is naked except for a cape, so it is a god, the sceptre points to him being Jupiter, the ruler of gods. Jupiter is also typically associated with Victory, he was often depicted with Victory in the right hand and sceptre in the left. The line across his head probably designates a wreath, also a common feature of Jupiter. Victory holds her common attributes, the triumphal wreath and a palm branch, the orb she stands on represents the world (thus meaning dominion over it). Round Earth was a firmly established concept in Roman times. The left figure, the prince (Galerius in this case) is identified by his full battle dress and the hand-held short elongated shape, which is either the ivory baton of imperium (the high command) or, more likely, a parazonium, a long triangular dagger, typically cradled in the bearer's left arm. A Roman parazonium blade tended to be leaf shape and approximately 15"-19" long. It was a ceremonial weapon, a mark of high rank, used to rally the troops.

GALERIUS, * c. 250, near Serdica, Dacia Ripensis (Sofia, Bulgaria) or in a Dacian place later called Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad, Serbia) † late Apr or early May 311 (aged ~60), Serdica, Dacia Ripensis (Sofia, Bulgaria) ‡ 1 Mar or 21 May 293 – 1 May 305 (as Eastern Caesar, under Diocletian), 1 May 305 – late Apr or early May 311 (as Eastern Augustus with many co-emperors).

Galerius was born of humble parentage and had a distinguished military career. On March 1, 293, he was nominated as Caesar by Diocletian, the supreme ruler of the empire, to help him govern the East. Galerius divorced his wife and married Diocletian’s daughter, Valeria. After ruling from Egypt from 293 to 295, Galerius assumed command of defensive operations against the Sasanians in 297. After being defeated, he then won a decisive victory that increased his influence with Diocletian. Galerius next proceeded to the Balkans and won numerous victories in the region. A staunch pagan, he persuaded the emperor to initiate the persecution of the Christians at Nicomedia in 303.

When Diocletian abdicated on May 1, 305, Galerius became Augustus of the East, ruling the Balkans and Anatolia. Since Galerius had arranged the appointment of two of his favourites, Maximinus (his nephew) and Flavius Valerius Severus, to be Caesars in both East and West, he was in effect the supreme ruler. When Constantius Chlorus died in 306, Galerius insisted that Severus govern the West as Augustus, but he grudgingly conceded the subordinate title of caesar to Chlorus’s son, Constantine, who was correctly suspected of Christian sympathies. Galerius’s supremacy was, however, short-lived. Severus was soon overthrown (306) and killed by Maxentius (son of the former emperor Maximian). Galerius invaded Italy but was forced to retreat. In 308 he induced Diocletian and Maximian to meet him at Carnuntum on the Danube and to declare Maxentius a usurper. On November 11, Galerius proclaimed as Augustus of the West his friend Licinius, who had effective control only in the region of the Danube.

A ruthless ruler, Galerius imposed the poll tax on the urban population and maintained the persecution of the Christians. In the winter of 310–311, however, he became incapacitated with a horrible disease. Fearing, perhaps, that his illness was the vengeance of the Christian God, he issued on April 30, 311, an edict grudgingly granting toleration. Shortly afterward he died. He was succeeded by his nephew Maximinus Daia.

Diocletian's money reform of 293.

Trying to fight the runaway inflation that he did not understand and to return people's faith in Roman coins, Diocletian did a complete overhaul of the Roman monetary system. He introduced a new theoretical base monetary unit called the denarius communis or d.c. (only rarely represented by actual coins, one example being old pre-Aurelian antoniniani still in circulation, valued now at 1 d. c., another – minted only on a small scale 1.5g coin with the reverse legend VTILITAS PVBLICA, "for public use"). Then he started minting new types of coins including a gold aureus of new purity and weight standard (1/60 pound of pure gold), a quality silver coin, argenteus, roughly similar to the early imperial denarius in size and weight, a new billon coin, of a copper alloy but with a small fraction of silver mostly in the form of coating, roughly similar to the old antoninianus when it was just introduced, however bearing now a laureate rather than a radiate bust. This type of coin is now commonly referred to as a follis or a nummus. Finally, a new radiate bronze coin, now referred to as a "radiate fraction" or a radiatus was introduced, similar to the early imperial aes in value, but much smaller in weight and size. There were also rare issues of ½ and ¼ nummus coins, mostly in connection to some celebration. Interestingly, the obverses of these new coins were chosen to represent some identical "generic" image of a "good emperor" independent of the actual likeness of the August or Caesar in whose name they were issued, thus affirming the unity of all the tetrarchy rulers. Very roughly one may think of a new radiatus as a price of one loaf of bread, a new argenteus as a very good daily wage, and a new aureus as a price of a good horse. An approximate relationship between these units was as follows: 1 aureus â‰ˆ 20 argentei â‰ˆ 1000 d.c. (some scholars prefer 25 argentei and 1250 d.c.); 1 argenteus â‰ˆ 5 nummi â‰ˆ 50 d.c.; 1 nummus â‰ˆ 5 radiati â‰ˆ 10 d.c.; 1 radiatus â‰ˆ 2 d.c. Of course we know that this reform was ineffective and inflation continued, so all these values were constantly shifting due to changing markets. Diocletian himself stopped minting argenteus in c. 305, and Constantine in his monetary reforms only re-established a new and highly successful gold standard, solidus (1/72 pound of pure gold, surprisingly actually first introduced also by Diocletian in 301, but only as a pilot version). As for billon and bronze coins, "folles" or "nummi", they were minted in all shapes and sizes all over the 4th century, often horribly debased by inflation, and their values at each point can only be guessed. It seems that in later times up to 1000 small bronze coins were sealed in a leather pouch to produce a reasonable unit of payment, thus giving rise to the name follis (lit. "bag" in Latin), which is now anachronistically applied to many billon and bronze coins of the late 3d and 4th century.Yurii P

Geta - Boy PortraitGeta AR Denarius
Obverse: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, boy's bare-headed and draped bust right
Reverse: NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, scepter in left, palladium in right
ID#: SRCV II 7184, RIC IV 13a, RSC III 90
Mint: Rome 199AD Size: 18/19mm, 3.45gmickster

Geta AR DenariusObv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT - Draped and cuirassed bust, bare headed, to right.
Rev:. NOBILITAS - Nobilitas with sceptre and palladium to right.
Date: 200 - 202 AD
Mint: Rome
Ref: RIC IVa 13, RSC III 90
Rarity: Scarceoa

Geta as caesar, RIC 13aP SEPT GETA CAES PONT
draped bust right
NOBILITAS
Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and palladium
AR Denarius, Rome mintnovacystis

Geta denariusNOBILITASTibsi

Geta RIC 13aSilver denarius, RIC IV 13a, RSC III 90, SRCV II 7184, Van Meter 24, VF, 3.157g, 20.2mm, 0o, Rome mint, as Caesar, 199 A.D.; obverse P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, boy's bare-headed and draped bust right; reverse NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, long vertical scepter in right, palladium in left. Ex FORVMfordicus

Geta RIC IV, 13(a)Geta 198 - 207 Caesar
AR - Denar, 3.46g, 18mm
Rome AD 199
obv. P SEPT GETA - CAES PONT
bust draped, cuirassed (?), bare head r., youthful portrait
rev. NOBI - LITAS
Nobilitas standing frontal, head r., holding sceptre r. and palladium l.
RIC IV, 13(a); C.90; BMCR. 199
Scarce; about EF

PALLADIUM, from Pallas, a cognomen of Athena. The original P. was stolen from Troy and brought to Italy by Aeneas. It was said to have been preserved with great reverence by the Romans as the protector of their own city.Jochen

Issue IV Nobilitas C181Cld
Nobilitas standing right
NOBILITAS
12h; 2.66g1 commentsmix_val

Issue IV Nobilitas C181Cldc
Nobilitas standing right
NOBILITAS
6h; 3.12gmix_val

Issue IV Nobilitas C181Cldc
Nobilitas standing right
NOBILITAS
12h; 3.33gmix_val

Issue IV Nobilitas unlistedCldc
Nobilitas standing left and not right as for C181
NOBILITAS
12h; 2.74gmix_val

Issue IV Nobilitas unlistedCldc
Nobilitas standing left and not right as for C181
NOBILITAS
12h; 1.87gmix_val

NobilitasGeta 198 - 207 Caesar
AR - Denar, 3.46g, 18mm
Rome AD 199
obv. P SEPT GETA - CAES PONT
bust draped, cuirassed (?), bare head r., youthful portrait
rev. NOBI - LITAS
Nobilitas standing frontal, head r., holding sceptre r. and palladium l.
RIC IV, 13(a); C.90; BMCR. 199
Scarce; about EF

NOBILITAS, Nobility. Unlike other personifications she does not seem to have a cult at Rome. She was a imperial virtue which was claimed by the emperors.
PALLADIUM, from Pallas, a cognomen of Athena. The original P. was stolen from Troy and brought to Italy by Aeneas. It was said to have been preserved with great reverence by the Romans as the protector of their own city.Jochen

NOBILITAS AVGGPhilippus I. antoninianus
Rome mintTibsi

Philip ArabAv. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rv. NOBILITAS AVGG
Nobilitas stg. l., holding sceptre and globe (S in field)
RIC 8, 3,82g, Rom Priscus

Philip I.Av. IMP MIVL PHILIPPVS AVG
laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rv. NOBILITAS AVGG -SC-
Nobilitas stg. r. holding sceptre and globe
RIC 155a 20,48g 29mmPriscus

RIC 4a, p.316, 13a - Geta, Nobilitas Geta
AR Denar
Obv.: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Draped ans cuirassed bust right
Rev.: NOBI-LITAS, Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and palladium
Ag, 3.20g, 18.9mm
Ref.: RIC 13a, RSC 90shanxi

ROMAN EMPIRE, Geta as CaesarObv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT
Bare headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: NOBILITAS
Nobilitas standing right, holding sceptre and palladium
Denarius, 3.3 gm, 18.5 gm, Rome RIC 13Da
Comment: One year younger than his brother, Caracalla. was elevated to the rank of Augustus in 209 while serving with his father in Britain. On the death of Septimus Severus in York (4 Feb 211), he found himself in joint rule with his brother to which he was the opposite in temperament. The two loathed each other and within the year of their return to Rome, he was murdered by Caracalla in February of 212 and his followers massacred.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Geta Nobilitas denarius RIC 13aObv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT
Bareheaded draped bust right
Rev: NOBILITAS
Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and palladium.

Rome mint 199 AD. 2.6 grams

RIC 13a. BMC 197, 223. RSC 90. RCV 7184. CSS 414.

I am particularly fond of Severan coins of women and children. I felt this was a particularly good portrait of young Geta. The reverse of the coin is extols the young Prince's nobility. Of course the pleasant lad shown on this coin was murdered by his brother who appear as an equally pleasant lad on another coin in my gallery.1 comments

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus - NOBILITAS AVGG (Tetricus II)17mm - 2,64g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type NOBILITAS AVGG
AGK N97a (R1)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus II - NOBILITAS AVGG16mm – 1,54g
Avers Tetricus II
Atelier local : type NOBILITAS AVGG
AGK N97b (R1)

Roman Geta DenariusGeta AR Denarius
Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bust, draped, cuirassed, bare head, right
Rev: NOBILITAS, Nobilitas sranding right, holding sceptre and paladium.

RIC 13a

ScarceTanit

Roman Imperial: Commodus as Augustus, AR Denarius, Second issue.Rome 186-187 A.D. 2.72g - 17.8mm, Axis 12h.

Obv: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT - Laureate head right.

Rev: NOBILIT AVG P M TR P XII IMP VIII COS V P P - Nobilitas standing front, head right, holding sceptre and statuette (of Minerva?).

Ref: RIC III, 139; RSC 382.
Provenance: Ex Simon Shipp. Chris Scarlioli Collection.Christian Scarlioli

Silver Denarius of GetaSilver denarius of Geta minted in Rome between 200-202 AD. 19.03 g, 3.29 g.

Obverse: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, draped bust right

Reverse: NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and palladium.

Attribution: RIC 13chuy1530

Tetricus I, barbarous radiate, NobilitasAE 3, 16mm, 2.58g
struck c. AD 270-280
obv. [IMP C T]ETRICVS P A
bearded bust, draped and radiate, r.
rev. NOBI[LITAS AGG]
Nobilitas, stg. r., with sceptre and globe
very rare, light brown patina
from a hoard in Northern France

The NOBILITAS type is rare and so is this imitation. These barbarious radiates have been struck between Claudius II Gothicus and c.270 when Aurelian has forbidden the usage of these small coins in the Empire.
Jochen

Tetricus II: Mint 1, Issue 5C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from front
NOBILITAS AVGG
Nobilitas standing right holding sceptre and globe
Mint 1, Issue 5
Elmer -; RIC 2441 commentsmauseus

TranquillitasAntoninus Pius 138-161
AR - Denar, 3.27g, 18.0mm
Rome AD 148-149
obv. IMP CAES T AEL HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP
head laureate r.
rev. TR POT XIIII COS IIII
Tranquillitas standing r., holding rudder and corn-ears
in exergue: TRANQ
RIC III, 202b; C.825 (without PIVS, a slip); BMC 736
scarce; EF

TRANQUILLITAS, tranquillity, an abstraction personified for the first time on coins of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. She is shown with the attributes which seem to hint at an association with the grain supply, a rudder and ears of grain, sometimes a modius or a prow.
TRANQUILLITAS reappears on an antoninian of Philip I with sceptre and capricorne. Here she must considered an imperial virtue like Pietas or Nobilitas rather than a blessing. The legend occurs once more on the coinage from Licinius II to Constantine II in the form of BEATA TRANQVILLITAS accompanied by the type of a globe on an altar. Here the message is similar to Hadrian's, the peaceful security of the Roman Empire.Jochen

Unlisted NobilitasObverse: IMPSEVALEXANDAVG, laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed
Reverse: NOBILITAS, nobilitas standing left, left hand holding sceptre, right hand outstretched, supporting palladium1 commentsmix_val

Unlisted nobilitas 2Obverse: IMPSEVALEXANDAVG, laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed
Reverse: NOBILITAS, nobilitas standing left, left hand holding sceptre, right hand outstretched, supporting palladium mix_val

[1005a] Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D.Silver denarius, S 7184, RIC 13a, RSC 90, VM 24, aEF/aEF, 3.5g, 19.38 mm, 180o, Rome mint, as Caesar, 199 A.D. Obverse: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, boy's bare-headed and draped bust right; Reverse: NOBILITAS, Nobilitas standing right, scepter in left, palladium in right. Ex Ancient Imports.

Publius Septimius Geta was the younger son of the emperor Septimius Severus. Geta's rivalry with his older brother, Caracalla, culminated in Geta's murder less than a year after Severus' death. Tradition soon idealized this victim of fratricide as a gentle prince taken by treachery far too soon.

Geta was born 7 March 189 in Rome, where his family was resident in between provincial governorships held by Severus under the emperor Commodus. The boy was named after Severus' father and was only 11 months younger than his brother, Caracalla.

In the course of the civil wars that established Severus as emperor, Severus used the young Caracalla to solidify popular support by changing the older son's name to connect the boy to the Antonine dynasty and by giving Caracalla the titles first of Caesar, then Augustus. As Caracalla was increasingly being treated as the "heir," Geta was being treated as the "spare." Geta was given the title Caesar and publicly promoted as part of a close-knit, imperial family.

The propaganda, however, was unable to hide completely the family's dysfunctional relationships, especially the increasingly bitter rivalry developing between the now teenagers, Caracalla and Geta. Severus decided to take his family out of Rome and on campaign in Britain to keep his sons busy. While Caracalla commanded troops, Geta was given civilian authority on the island. Geta was also given the title Augustus (more than a decade after his brother received it), which meant that Geta theoretically was co-emperor along with Severus and Caracalla. Geta's increased authority did nothing to improve his relationship with Caracalla.

Soon Severus' health began to deteriorate, and ever more desperate pleas were made for his sons to get along. Septimius Severus died 4 February 211 in York. Caracalla was 22 years old, Geta 21.

The Roman world now had two brothers as joint emperors, a situation that recalled events of half a century earlier, when adopted brothers Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus officially shared the empire. Caracalla might well have been satisfied had Geta behaved like Verus, whose authority was more official than real and who deferred to his older sibling in political matters. Geta, however, saw his authority as being truly equal with that of his brother, and the two were barely on speaking terms during the long trip back to Rome. Once in the city, the situation did not improve. Government ground to a halt as the two bickered on appointments and policy decisions. A later story even claimed the brothers were considering dividing the empire into two.

By the end of the year Caracalla was being advised to have Geta murdered, and after at least one unsuccessful attempt at the start of the Saturnalia festival, Geta was killed in late December 211. One version of events claimed Geta was lured to come without his bodyguards to a meeting with Caracalla and their mother, Julia Domna, to discuss a possible reconciliation. When Geta arrived, he was attacked by centurions. Wounded and bleeding, Geta ran to his mother and clinging to her, died.

Caracalla said the murder came in response to his brother's plottings, and the death started a bloody and violent purge of Caracalla's suspected enemies. Geta's memory was condemned, his name removed from inscriptions, his face removed from sculptures and paintings. Critics of Caracalla looked back wistfully at the murdered prince, who came to be described as a lamb devoured by his ferocious, lion-like brother. Official restoration of Geta's reputation came with the arrival of the emperor Elagabalus to Rome in 219, when Geta's remains were translated into the Mausoleum of Hadrian to join those of his father and brother.

The little reliable evidence about Geta's personality does not seem to support the idealized picture of a gentle prince, but the shocking nature of his death at the instigation of his brother transformed Geta's life into legend.

By Michael L. Meckler, Ohio State University
Published: De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families http://www.roman-emperors.org/startup.htm. Used by permission.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.

Cleisthenes

[906a]Commodus, March or April 177 - 31 Dec 192 A.D.COMMODUS AR silver denarius. RSC 190. RCV 5644. 16.5mm, 2.3g. F. Obverse: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, bust of Commodus wearing lion skin in imitation of Hercules and Alexander the Great, facing right; Reverse: HER-CVL RO-MAN AV-GV either side of club of Hercules, all in wreath. RARE. Ex Incitatus.

This coin refers to Commodus' belief that he was Hercules reincarnated. According to the historian Herodian, "he issued orders that he was to be called not Commodus, son of Marcus, but Hercules, son of Jupiter. Abandoning the Roman and imperial mode of dress, he donned the lion-skin, and carried the club of Hercules..." (Joseph Sermarini).

De Imperatoribus Romanis:
An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors

Commodus (A.D. 180-192)

Dennis Quinn

Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, the son of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his wife-cousin Faustina, was born in Lanuvium in 161 AD. Commodus was named Caesar at the age of 5, and co-Augustus at the age of 17, spending most of his early life accompanying his father on his campaigns against the Quadi and the Marcomanni along the Danubian frontier. His father died, possibly of the plague, at a military encampment at Bononia on the Danube on 17 March 180, leaving the Roman Empire to his nineteen-year-old son.[[1]] Upon hearing of his father's death, Commodus made preparations for Marcus' funeral, made concessions to the northern tribes, and made haste to return back to Rome in order to enjoy peace after nearly two decades of war. Commodus, and much of the Roman army behind him, entered the capital on 22 October, 180 in a triumphal procession, receiving a hero's welcome. Indeed, the youthful Commodus must have appeared in the parade as an icon of new, happier days to come; his arrival sparked the highest hopes in the Roman people, who believed he would rule as his father had ruled.[[2]]

The coins issued in his first year all display the triumphant general, a warrior in action who brought the spoils of victory to the citizens of Rome.[[3]] There is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that Commodus was popular among many of the people, at least for a majority of his reign. He seems to have been quite generous.[[4]]. Coin types from around 183 onward often contain the legend, Munificentia Augusta[[5]], indicating that generosity was indeed a part of his imperial program. Coins show nine occasions on which Commodus gave largesses, seven when he was sole emperor.[[6]] According to Dio, the emperor obtained some of this funding by taxing members of the senatorial class.[[7]] This policy of munificence certainly caused tensions between Commodus and the Senate. In 191 it was noted in the official Actus Urbis that the gods had given Commodus to Populus Senatusque Romanus. Normally the phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus was used. [[8]] While the Senate hated Commodus, the army and the lower classes loved him.[[9]] Because of the bad relationship between the Senate and Commodus as well as a senatorial conspiracy,[[10]] Rome "...was virtually governed by the praetorian prefects Perennis (182-185) and Cleander (186-9)."[[11]]

Commodus began to dress like the god Hercules, wearing lion skins and carrying a club.[[12]] Thus he appropriated the Antonines' traditional identification with Hercules, but even more aggressively. Commodus' complete identification with Hercules can be seen as an attempt to solidify his claim as new founder of Rome, which he now called the Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana. This was legitimized by his direct link to Hercules, son of Father Jupiter.[[13]] He probably took the title of Hercules officially some time before mid-September 192.[[14]]

While the literary sources, especially Dio, Herodian, and the Historia Augusta, all ridicule the antics of his later career, they also give important insight into Commodus' relationship to the people.[[15]] His most important maneuver to solidify his claims as Hercules Romanus was to show himself as the god to the Roman people by taking part in spectacles in the amphitheater. Not only would Commodus fight and defeat the most skilled gladiators, he would also test his talents by encountering the most ferocious of the beasts.[[16]]

Commodus won all of his bouts against the gladiators.[[17]] The slayer of wild beasts, Hercules, was the mythical symbol of Commodus' rule, as protector of the Empire.[[18]]

During his final years he declared that his age should be called the "Golden Age."[[19]] He wanted all to revel in peace and happiness in his age of glory, praise the felicitas Commodi, the glorious libertas, his pietas, providential, his victoria and virtus aeterna.[[20]] Commodus wanted there to be no doubt that this "Golden Age" had been achieved through his munificence as Nobilissimus Princeps. He had declared a brand new day in Rome, founding it anew in 190, declaring himself the new Romulus.[[21]] Rome was now to be called Colonia Lucia Annia Commodiana, as noted above, and deemed "the Immortal," "the Fortunate," "the Universal Colony of the Earth."[[22]] Coins represent the archaic rituals of city-[re]foundation, identifying Commodus as a new founder and his age as new days.[[23]]

Also in 190 he renamed all the months to correspond exactly with his titles. From January, they run as follows: Lucius, Aelius, Aurelius, Commodus, Augustus, Herculeus, Romanus, Exsuperatorius, Amazonius, Invictus, Felix, Pius.[[24]] According to Dio Cassius, the changing of the names of the months was all part of Commodus' megalomania.[[25]] Commodus was the first and last in the Antonine dynasty to change the names of the months.

The legions were renamed Commodianae, the fleet which imported grain from Africa was called Alexandria Commodiana Togata, the Senate was deemed the Commodian Fortunate Senate, his palace and the Roman people were all given the name Commodianus.[[26]] The day that these new names were announced was also given a new title: Dies Commodianus.[[27]] Indeed, the emperor presented himself with growing vigor as the center of Roman life and the fountainhead of religion. New expressions of old religious thought and new cults previously restricted to private worship invade the highest level of imperial power.[[28]]

If Eusebius of Caesarea [[29]] is to be believed, the reign of Commodus inaugurated a period of numerous conversions to Christianity. Commodus did not pursue his father's prohibitions against the Christians, although he did not actually change their legal position. Rather, he relaxed persecutions, after minor efforts early in his reign.[[30]] Tradition credits Commodus's policy to the influence of his concubine Marcia; she was probably his favorite,[[31]] but it is not clear that she was a Christian.[[32]] More likely, Commodus preferred to neglect the sect, so that persecutions would not detract from his claims to be leading the Empire through a "Golden Age."[[33]]

During his reign several attempts were made on Commodus' life.[[34]] After a few botched efforts, an orchestrated plot was carried out early in December 192, apparently including his mistress Marcia. On 31 December an athlete named Narcissus strangled him in his bath,[[35]] and the emperor's memory was cursed. This brought an end to the Antonine Dynasty.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alföldy, G. "Der Friedesschluss des Kaisers Commodus mit den Germanen," Historia 20 (1971): 84-109.

Aymard, J. "Commode-Hercule foundateur de Rome," Revue des études latines 14 (1936): 340-64.

Birley, A. R. The African Emperor: Septimius Severus. -- rev. ed.-- London, 1988.
________. Marcus Aurelius: A Biography. London, 1987.

Breckenridge, J. D. "Roman Imperial Portraiture from Augustus to Gallienus," ANRW 2.17. 1 (1981): 477-512.

Chantraine, H. "Zur Religionspolitik des Commodus im Spiegel seiner Münzen," Römische Quartalschrift für christliche Altertumskunde und für Kirchengeschichte 70 (1975): 1-31.

Ferguson, J. The Religions of the Roman Empire. Ithaca, 1970.

Fishwick, D. The Imperial Cult in the Latin West. Leiden, 1987.

Gagé, J. "La mystique imperiale et l'épreuve des jeux. Commode-Hercule et l'anthropologie hercaléenne," ANRW 2.17.2 (1981), 663-83.

Garzetti, A. From Tiberius to the Antonines. A History of the Roman Empire A. D. 14-192. London, 1974.

Grosso F. La lotta politica al tempo di Commodo. Turin, 1964.

Hammond, M. The Antonine Monarchy. Rome, 1956.

Helgeland, J. "Roman Army Religion," ANRW II.16.2 (1978): 1470-1505.

Howe, L. L. The Praetorian Prefect from Commodus to Diocletian (A. D. 180-305). Chicago, 1942.

Keresztes, P. "A Favorable Aspect of Commodus' Rule," in Hommages à Marcel Renard 2. Bruxelles, 1969.

Mattingly, R. The Roman Imperial Coinage. Volume III: Antoninus Pius to Commodus. London, 1930.

Nock, A. D. "The Emperor's Divine Comes," Journal of Roman Studies 37 (1947): 102-116.

Parker, H. M. D. A History of the Roman World from A. D. 138 to 337. London, 1935.
________. and B.H. Warmington. "Commodus." OCD2, col. 276.

Raubitschek, A. E. "Commodus and Athens." Studies in Honor of Theodore Leslie Shear. Hesperia, Supp. 8, 1948.

Rostovtzeff, M. I. "Commodus-Hercules in Britain," Journal of Roman Studies 13 (1923): 91-105.

Sordi, M. "Un senatore cristano dell'éta di Commodo." Epigraphica 17 (1959): 104-112.

Speidel, M. P. "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army," Journal of Roman Studies 83 (1993): 109-114.

Stanton, G. R. "Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus: 1962-1972." ANRW II.2 (1975): 478-549.

Notes
[[1]] For a discussion of the circumstances surrounding the death of Marcus Aurelius, see A. R. Birley, Marcus Aurelius: A Biography -- rev. ed. -- (London, 1987), 210.
Aurelius Victor, De Caes. 16.4, writing around the year 360, claimed Aurelius died at Vindobona, modern Vienna. However, Tertullian, Apol. 25, who wrote some seventeen years after Marcus' death, fixed his place of death at Sirmium, twenty miles south of Bononia. A. R. Birley (Marcus Aurelius, 209-10) cogently argues Tertullian is much more accurate in his general description of where Marcus was campaigning during his last days.
For the dating of Marcus Aurelius' death and the accession of Commodus, see M. Hammond, The Antonine Monarchy (Rome, 1956), 179-80.

[[2]] For the army's attitude toward peace, the attitude of the city toward the peace, and the reception of the emperor and his forces into Rome, see Herodian, 1.7.1-4; for Commodus' subsequent political policies concerning the northern tribes, see G. Alföldy, "Der Friedesschluss des Kaisers Commodus mit den Germanen," Historia 20 (1971): 84-109.
For a commentary on the early years of Commodus in the public perception as days of optimism, see A. Garzetti, From Tiberius to the Antonines. A History of the Roman Empire A. D. 14-192 (London, 1974), 530. For a more critical, and much more negative portrayal, see the first chapter of F. Grosso, La lotta politica al tempo di Commodo (Turin, 1964).

[[3]]The gods Minerva and Jupiter Victor are invoked on the currency as harbingers of victory; Jupiter Conservator on his coins watches over Commodus and his Empire, and thanks is given to divine Providence (H. Mattingly, The Roman Imperial Coinage. Volume III: Antoninus Pius to Commodus, [London, 1930] 356-7, 366-7). In 181, new coin types appear defining the new reign of Commodus. Victory and peace are stressed. Coins extol Securitas Publica, Felicitas, Libertas, Annona, and Aequitas (ibid., 357).
By 186 Commodus is depicted as the victorious princes, the most noble of all born to the purple. Herodian (1.5.5) describes how Commodus boasted to his soldiers that he was born to be emperor. See also H. Chantraine, "Zur Religionspolitik des Commodus im Spiegel seiner Münzen," Römische Quatralschrift für christliche Altertumskunde und für Kirchengeschichte 70 (1975), 26. He is called Triumphator and Rector Orbis, and associated with the Nobilitas of Trojan descent (Mattingly, RIC III.359; idem, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Volume IV: Antoninus Pius to Commodus, [Oxford, 1940], clxii).

[[4]] Dio tells us that Commodus liked giving gifts and often gave members of the populace 140 denarii apiece (Cass. Dio, 73.16), whereas the Historia Augusta reports that he gave each man 725 denarii (SHA, Comm., 16.3).

[[5]]Mattingly, RIC, III.358.

[[6]] Idem., CBM, IV.clxxiv.

[[7]]Cass. Dio, 73.16.

[[8]]M. P. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army," Journal of Roman Studies 83 (1993), 113.

[[9]]Mattingly, CBM, IV.xii. Commodus was also popular amongst the northern divisions of the army because he allowed them to wield axes in battle, a practice banned by all preceding emperors. See, Speidel, JRS 83 (1993), 114.

[[10]]Infra, n. 34.

[[11]] H. Parker and B.H. Warmington, OCD2, s.v. "Commodus," col. 276; after 189, he was influenced by his mistress Marcia, Eclectus his chamberlain, and Laetus (who became praetorian prefect in 191 (Idem.).

[[12]]Herodian, 1.14.8. Hadrian appears on medallions in lion skins; but as far as the sources tell us, he never appeared in public in them. See J. Toynbee, Roman Medallions,(New York, 1986), 208.
He would often appear at public festivals and shows dressed in purple robes embroidered with gold. He would wear a crown made of gold, inlaid with the finest gems of India. He often carried a herald's staff as if imitating the god Mercury. According to Dio Cassius, Commodus' lion's skin and club were carried before him in the procession, and at the theaters these vestiges of Hercules were placed on a gilded chair for all to see (Cass. Dio, 73.17). For the implications of the golden chair carried in procession in relation to the imperial cult, see D. Fishwick, The Imperial Cult in the Latin West, (Leiden, 1987-91 ), 555.

[[13]] H. M. D. Parker, A History of the Roman World from A. D. 138 to 337, (London, 1935), 34; For medallions that express the relationship between Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, and Lucius Verus extolling Hercules as a symbol of civic virtue, see Toynbee, Roman Medallions, 208. For a general statement on the symbolism of Hercules in the Antonine age, see M. Hammond, The Antonine Monarchy, 238.
For a discussion of Commodus' association with Hercules, see
Rostovtzeff, "Commodus-Hercules," 104-6.
Herodian spells out the emperor's metamorphosis in detail (1.14.8).

[[14]]See Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor," 114. He argues this general date because a papyrus from Egypt's Fayum records Hercules in Commodus' title on 11 October 192.

[[15]]For a preliminary example, Herodian writes (1.13.8), "people in general responded well to him."

[[16]]As Dio reports, Commodus, with his own hands, gave the finishing stroke to five hippopotami at one time. Commodus also killed two elephants, several rhinoceroses, and a giraffe with the greatest of ease. (Cass. Dio, 73.10), and with his left hand (ibid., 73.19). Herodian maintains that from his specially constructed terrace which encircled the arena (enabling Commodus to avoid risking his life by fighting these animals at close quarters), the emperor also killed deer, roebuck, various horned animals, lions, and leopards, always killing them painlessly with a single blow. He purportedly killed one hundred leopards with one hundred javelins, and he cleanly shot the heads off countless ostriches with crescent-headed arrows. The crowd cheered as these headless birds continued to run around the amphitheater (1.15-4-6; for Commodus' popularity at these brutal spectacles, see Birley, The African Emperor, 86) (and Dio tells his readers that in public Commodus was less brutal than he was in private [73.17ff]).

[[17]] According to Herodian (1.15-17), "In his gladiatorial combats, he defeated his opponents with ease, and he did no more than wound them, since they all submitted to him, but only because they knew he was the emperor, not because he was truly a gladiator."

[[18]]Webber, "The Antonines," CAH, XI.360.

[[19]]Cass. Dio, 73.15.

[[20]] Mattingly, RIC, III.361. For Commodus' propaganda of peace, see W. Webber, "The Antonines," CAH, XI.392.

[[21]] W. Webber, "The Antonines," CAH, XI.392-3. In 189 a coin type was issued with the legend Romulus Conditor, perhaps indicating he began the official renaming process during that year. For a discussion on Commodus as Romulus, see A. D. Nock, "The Emperor's Divine Comes," Journal of Roman Studies 37 (1947), 103.

[[22]] HA, Comm. 7.1; Cass. Dio, 73.15.

[[23]]Mattingly, RIC, III.361. See also, Webber, "The Antonines," CAH, XI.386.

[[24]]The title Felix is first used by the emperor Commodus, and is used in the titles of almost all successive emperors to the fifth century. See, D. Fishwick, The Imperial Cult in the Latin West (Leiden, 1987-91), 473.
HA, Comm., 12.315; Cass. Dio, 73.15; Herodian, I.14.9. These new names for the months seem to have actually been used, at least by the army, as confirmed by Tittianus' Altar. See M. P. Speidel, "Commodus the God-Emperor and the Army," Journal of Roman Studies 83 (1993), 112.

[[25]] Cass. Dio, 73.15.

[[26]]Legions:Idem.; the Grain fleet: SHA, Comm., 12.7. For a further discussion of Commodus' newly named fleet, see, A. Garzetti, From Tiberius to the Antonines, 547. For coins issued extolling the fleet, see Mattingly, CBM, IV.clxix; RIC, III.359; the Senate: Cass. Dio, 73.15; the Imperial Palace: SHA, Comm., 12.7; the Roman People: Ibid., 15.5.

[[27]]Cass. Dio, 73.15.

[[28]]Mattingly, CBM, IV.clxxxiv.

[[29]]Eusebius, Hist.Ecc., 5.21.1.

[[30]]For a discussion of the treatment of Christianity during the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus as well as persecutions during the reign of Commodus, see Keresztes, "A Favorable Aspect," 374, 376-377.

[[31]]Herodian, 1.16.4; Dio, 73.4. A Medallion from early 192 shows Commodus juxtaposed with the goddess Roma, which some scholars have argued incorporates the features of Marcia. See, Roman Medallions, "Introduction." Commodus was married, however, to a woman named Crispina. He commissioned several coins early in his rule to honor her.

[[32]]The Christian apologist Hippolytus tells that she was a Christian (Philos. 9.2.12), Dio tells that she simply favored the Christians (73.4). Herodian does not take a stand on the matter either way (1.16.4).

[[33]]Cass. Dio, 73.15. He pronounces Commodus' edict that his rule should be henceforth called the "Golden Age."

[[34]]H. Parker and B.H. Warmington note that Commodus..."resorted to government by means of favorites...which was exacerbated by an abortive conspiracy promoted by Lucilla and Ummidius Quadratus (182)." (OCD2, col. 276).

[[35]]Herodian, 1.17.2-11; Dio Cass., 73.22; SHA, Comm.,17.1-2.

Copyright (C) 1998, Dennis Quinn. This file may be copied on the condition that the entire contents, including the header and this copyright notice, remain intact. Used by Permission.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.

Cleisthenes

49 files on 1 page(s)