Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 157. Estimate CHF1250.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012.  Sold For CHF1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Tarsus, Cilicia. Commodus. 177-192. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 33.5mm, 20.65 g 1), c. 190-192. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑΥΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟC CΕ Bearded bust of Commodus to right, wearing the taenia and robes of a Demiourgos. Rev. ΤΑΡCΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩC / ΔΙC ΝΕΩΚΟΡΟΥ Facade of a dekastyle temple of the Imperial Cult, with an eagle in the pediment and ΚΟΜΟΔΕΙΟC in the frieze course above the columns. BMC 169. SNG Paris 1463 (same dies). SNG PFPS 1350 (same dies). With an attractive, slightly rough green patina, and a rather special portrait of the emperor. Good very fine.

From the M Collection, ex LHS 95, 25 October 2005, 825.

The senior magistrates at Tarsus were called demiourgoi, “craftsmen” and wore special robes of office. A number of Roman emperors were given this honor and here we see Commodus adorned with these ceremonial robes (see below, lot 176, for a similar portrait of Caracalla). The fact that the temple is labeled as being “Commodeian” implies that the emperor actually visited the city.