| The Alexandria mint issued denarii for a short period during the last years of the second century AD. These coins, none of which are common, include denarii in the name of Commodus, Pertinax and Clodius
Albinus Caesar. Coins of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna are covered in the Severan section of this site. Alexandria mint specimens can be distinguished by style, in particular the heavy or protruding eye on the portrait.
Pertinax
Pertinax - Silver denarius - 193 AD - Alexandria mint - Mint unlisted in standard references
IMP CAE P HELV PERTIN AVG / PROVID - DEOR COSII
Alexandria mint denarii of Pertinax have been appearing on the market with increasing frequency. Still rare, especially in decent condition, these are common enough that a specimen can be found with little effort. Many dealers, however, will fail to recognize that the coin is a product of the branch mint. A second version shows both arms of the reverse figure extended toward the star. Even more common than the Providentia is the reverse (below) showing the seated figure of Ops, the personification of wealth. Oddly, this coin of a 'rare' Emperor is probably the easiest way to find a representation of this rare reverse type. The Ops Pertinax is probably the second most common denarius of Alexandria. Only the Venus Felix type of Julia Domna is seen more frequently. Compared to Rome mint coins, Alexandria denarii exhibit large portraits with a wild eye and are usually poorly struck on short flans. Many have lower grade metal quality showing porosity like our Ops example. Since the legends match, only style will separate these coins from their Rome mint counterparts.
Pertinax - Silver denarius - 193 AD - Alexandria mint - Mint unlisted in standard references
IMP CAE P HELV PERTIN AVG / OPI DIVIN TRP COSII
Clodius Albinus
| Clodius Albinus - Silver denarius - 194 AD
Alexandria mint - Mint unlisted in standard references
DCLODSEPT - ALBINCAES/FELICI-TAS-COS II
Until recently (2009), all of the specmens for Clodius Albinus known to me have the reverse FELICITAS COS II
showing the personification of Felicitas standing facing left holding a caduceus and scepter. The type
is recognized from the Rome mint in all the major references (Cohen 15, Roman Imperial Coins 4,
British Museum Catalog 91-92). All the known Felicitas reverse Alexandria coins (and some,
but not all, coins from Rome) show the reverse legend split FELICI---TAS---COSII. Obverses however show several different splits.
The upper left photo shows DCLODSEPTAL --- BINCAES while the lower left uses DCLODSEP --- TALBINCAES. While these are somewhat rare it should be noted that the number of different dies used on the known coins suggests that this was not a very small issue. More and more have been discovered in the hoard material currently appearing on the market. When this page was first posted I stated that all of the Albinus Alexandria coins shared this reverse type but now I now stand corrected. There are extremely rare coins of this mint with a Fortuna seated reverse. I have not seen one in person but the photos leave no doubt that the identification is correct. |
Commodus
Commodus - Silver denarius - 192 AD - Alexandria mint - Unlisted in standard references
M COMM ANTO - N AVG PIVS BRIT / LIR AVG RM TRP - XVII COS VII PP Libertas
Only recently have rare coins of this mint for Commodus been recognized. None are listed in RIC for Commodus (nor, for that matter, for Pertinax or Clodius Albinus). Both of the last two issued types at Alexandria that can only be separated from Rome mint coins by style but the one type known for Commodus would require a separate listing in Cohen or Seaby due to the combination of obverse and reverse legends. In 192, the Rome mint used the newly adopted name Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus in place of the previous Marcus Aurelius Commodus. Rome mint coins of the last year read L AEL AVREL COMM but Alexandria used the old name in combination with TRP XVII (sorry - 95% off flan on this specimen) COS VII which dates the coin to 192 AD. Stranger still are the spelling problems on the reverse. All of the several dies that I have seen of this coin share the same errors. 'Libertas' is abbreviated LIR while Pontifex Maximus is RM. After that the correct spelling of Pater Patria (PP) almost seems odd. We have seen before that the Eastern mints had trouble with B and R as well as R and P. The figure shown is Libertas (Freedom) holding a pileus or liberty cap as was given to freed slaves. I regret I do not have an example to show of the rare coin for Commodus with the reverse reading CONSECRATIO surrounding an eagle. While the reverse is ordinarily used with commemorative coins for deceased rulers, the obverse for this one is the same as our coin shown here. This has to raise the question as to which of these coins were issued during the life of Commodus and which after? Are the CONSECRATIO reverses errors or was the error in using a lifetime legend for a commemorative issue? More study is required. |
