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Between 180 AD and 184 AD, the Romans were once again at war with the northern tribes in Britain. According to Cassius Dio, they breached Hadrian’s wall and killed a Roman general, making this the most serious war of Commodus’ reign. When the war was won, Commodus minted two types of coins to celebrate the victory. He also took on the title “Britannicus”, and all his coins after this date feature “Brit” in the legend.
The first type of coin is an extremely rare sestertius featuring a new depiction of Britannia on the reverse. She is standing with a curved sword in her right hand, and a wreath or a patera in her left hand. Some claim that she holds a helmet in he left hand, but I haven’t managed to find a photo of a coin that’s in good enough condition to tell one way or the other. This coin comes in two variations (RIC 3 437A and RIC 3 437C), the second of which includes “BRIT” in the obverse legend.
Photo Copyright CGB Numismatique Paris. Sold for €2,500
The second type of coin is also a sestertius, and is much more common. This features Victory on the reverse, “VICT BRIT” or “VIC BRIT” in the exergue, and comes in three variants (RIC 3 440, RIC 3 451, and RIC 3 452) which are just slight differences to the reverse legend.
Photo Copyright Dix Noonan Webb Ltd. 15th Feb 2017 Lot 134. Sold for £600+fees
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