Egypt. Alexandria. Commodus as Caesar, 166-177. Diobol (Bronze, 23.60 mm, 6.68 g) dated RY 17 of Marcus Aurelius (= 176-177) AYTOK KAIC Λ ΑΥΡЄΛΙΟC KOMMOΔΟC Draped and cuirassed bare head bust of Commodus right. Rev. Griffin, as Nemesis, seated left, holding the right paw on wheel, L I[Z] (date) across fields. RPC IV.4, 3338. Dattari-Savio pl. 206, 3833. Geissen - . Emmett 2503.17. Minor flan crack on reverse. Light-brown toning. About Very Fine. Very rare.

Ex Heidelberger Münzhandlung 20, 22-24. 05.1997, lot 403.

Commodus began to mint coins in the year 16 of reign of his father Marcus Aurelius (175-176 AD) in strange coincidence with the unclear death of his mother Faustina II. This very rare bronze diobol, shows on obverse the juvenile portrait of Commodu as Caesar and on the reverse the winged griffith sitting, turned left, with right paw on a wheel, the symbol of Nemesis, goddess of destiny, perhaps the strange one of his mother's death.