Commodus and Annius Verus. As Caesars, AD 166-169. Æ Medallion (40mm, 54.37 g, 12h). Dynastic issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 167-169. Fair.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 249. Estimated: $ 1 500

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 2 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Commodus and Annius Verus. As Caesars, AD 166-169. Æ Medallion (40mm, 54.37 g, 12h). Dynastic issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 167-169. COMMOD VS CAES VERVS CAES, bareheaded and draped busts of Commodus and Annius Verus facing each other / TEMPORVM/ FELICITAS in two lines in exergue, the Four Seasons, as young boys, dancing and showing their attributes: from left to right, Spring carries a basin on his head, Summer holds a sickle in right hand above his head, Autumn holds a hare and a tray full of fruit, Winter wears a hood over his head and holds a bird which he has just captured, probably a wild duck. Mittag, Römische III 113.8 (A56/R78; this coin); Gnecchi p. 44, 1, pl. 72, 1; MIR 18, 1048-1/12-22; Banti –. Green and brown surfaces, some cleaning marks, roughness. Fair. Extremely rare.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Phil Peck (“Morris”) Collection (Heritage 3071, 7 January 2019), lot 32137; Kircheldorf 21 (6 April 1970), lot 400; Riechmann XX (18 September 1922), lot 735; Marie Fenerly Hristic (Christitch) Collection (Egger XLI, 18 November 1912), lot 1231; Dr. Pavlakis Fenerlis (Fenerly Bey) Collection (1833–1911).

The marriage between Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger was fraught with numerous untimely deaths among their children. At the time of this medallion's issue, the couple had already had 12 of their eventual 13 children. Of these, six had died, thereby leaving Commodus and his younger brother, Marcus Annius Verus, as the sole surviving male heirs. The reverse harkens to hopeful longevity, with the four seasons depicted as young boys. Alas, Annius Verus died in 169 at the age of 7, leaving Commodus the sole surviving heir to the throne.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:22:40 ET.



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