Commodus, 177-192. As (Copper, 22 mm, 4.19 g, 12 h), a contemporary cast imitation ('limes-falsum'). Irregular mint, after 190. [M COMM ANT P] FELIX AVG BRIT P P Laureate head of Commodus to right. Rev. [COL L AN COM P M] TR P XV IMP [VIII] / [COS VI] / [S] - C Veiled Commodus plowing pomerium with yoke of two oxen to right. Cf. BMC 659, Cohen 40 and RIC 570 (for prototype). Slightly rough and with traces of corrosion and some deposits, otherwise, fine.


Find spots indicate that so-called Limes-falsa - crude cast copies of Roman bronze coinage - were probably produced as emergency money at military sites along the northern frontier, perhaps when supplies of officially struck coins were temporarily interrupted. Their workmanship is usually poor, and they were likely meant less as counterfeits than as a stopgap until regular coin arrived again.