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Æ23 - Commodus L ΚΕ
| Issuer | Alexandria (Egypt) |
|---|---|
| Year | 184-185 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | RPC IV.4#3473 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Reverse description | A griffin seated to the right, its eagle-like head crowned with a modius or crest, one forepaw resting upon a wheel — a symbol associated with Nemesis and divine retribution. The creature is depicted with characteristic leonine hindquarters and outstretched wings, rendered in the distinctive style of Alexandrian provincial bronzes. The regnal date legend appears in the field, marking this issue to Year 25 of Commodus's reign in the Alexandrian calendar. The overall fabric is broad and flat, consistent with hammered Æ tetradrachm-sized issues from Roman Egypt. |
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| Additional information |
Alexandria's civic coinage under Commodus was reckoned by regnal years rather than the Roman calendar — year 25 (LΚΕ) corresponds to 184–185 AD, a period when Commodus had already largely withdrawn from active governance in favor of his freedmen and praetorian prefects. The Alexandrian mint continued operating with considerable autonomy throughout his reign, producing a wide typological range in bronze for local circulation within Egypt, where Roman imperial currency did not freely circulate alongside the closed monetary system.