Medallion - Commodus Commodus holding Victoria

Reverse

Emperor Commodus standing left, wearing plate metal muscle cuirass, subarmalis (linen doublet), layers of waist and shoulder pteruges, and paludamentum (officer's cloak), holding spear pointing down in raised left hand and globe surmounted by a statuette of goddess Victoria facing right, offering wreath in right hand. Archaic Italo-Corinthian helmet below.

Script: Latin

Lettering: P M TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P

Comment

Apart from normal coinage intended for general circulation, Roman emperors struck large medallions intended as special handouts to high-ranking government and military officials on important occasions, often to mark the beginning of a new year.