Commodus, Satala Mint - AE25mm - Apollo standing
Identifier
ANRO-2010; RPC IV.3 - 25301 temp; Fox-Cm-A1a
Reference Description
Armenia Minor, Satala
Commodus 177-192 AD
AE 27mm
Obverse: IMP CAES COMOΔO; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus, right, seen from rear.
Reverse: LEG XV; Apollo standing left, holding branch and bow, between two standards.
RPC IV.3 - 25301; Fox-Cm-A1a
Commodus 177-192 AD
AE 27mm
Obverse: IMP CAES COMOΔO; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus, right, seen from rear.
Reverse: LEG XV; Apollo standing left, holding branch and bow, between two standards.
RPC IV.3 - 25301; Fox-Cm-A1a
Provenance
| Auction or Collection | Date | Characteristics | |
| 4 | SPQR Collection Auction 2 Lot 430 | 12-Sep-2024 | 26mm, 11.75g |
| 3 | Bay Numismatics Auction 4 Lot 382 | 5-Jul-2024 | 24mm, 8.6g |
| 2 | Bay Numismatics Auction 4 Lot 384 | 5-Jul-2024 | 22mm, 8.1g |
| 1 | Zeus Numismatics Web Auction 25 Lot 298 | 23-Oct-2022 | 25mm, 9.74g |
Notes
Satala, situated in ancient Armenia Minor (modern-day Sadak, Turkey), served as a strategic Roman military fortress on the empire’s eastern frontier. Established under Emperor Vespasian in the late 1st century AD, it housed Legio XV Apollinaris and later Legio XVI Flavia Firma, forming a critical part of Rome’s defense against Parthian incursions. Though not a traditional Armenian city, Satala’s proximity to Armenia proper and its role in regional conflicts, such as the Battle of Satala in 298 AD, underscore its significance in Armenian history.
Recommended Reading
Fox, Mark. “A Tale of Four Ancient Cities and Their Newly Discovered Coins.” The Numismatist, Jan. 2025, pp. 39–45.
Images
Archive Category
Citation
“Commodus, Satala Mint - AE25mm - Apollo standing,” Armenian Numismatic Research Organization, accessed May 29, 2025, https://armnumres.org/index.php/items/show/2010.