Tiberius, AD 14-37. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 28 mm, 12.76 g, 12 h), uncertain mint in Commagene (?), circa 19-20. TI•CAESAR•DIVI•AVGVST[I•F•AVGVST]VS Laureate head of Tiberius to right. Rev. PONT•MAXIM•COS•III•[IMP•VII•TR•PO]T•XXI Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopiae. BMC 174. RIC 89. RPC I 3868. Struck very slightly off center, otherwise, very fine.


The Kingdom of Commagene was annexed by the Romans in AD 17. Soon, a series of bronzes with Latin legends in two denominations (most likely orichalcum dupondii and copper asses) was minted in the East. Based this on the manufacture of the flans, Cohen was the first to suggest that these coins were struck at a mint in Commagene. This attribution was further discussed and supported by Mowat (RN 1911, pp. 423-426), and maintained in all major references since (BMC, RIC, etc.). However, as pointed out by the authors of RPC I, an attribution of these issues to Antioch in Syria is equally plausible.