COMMODUS AE, PELLA OF THE DECAPOLIS
Spijkerman 7, SNG ANS 1357, Choice Near EF, some cleaning scratches, 25.5mm, 9.06 grams
Obverse: AVT KOMMOΔOC ANTωNEINOC around laureate head of Commodus to right
Reverse: Tyche seated on rocks to right, holding grain ears; at feet, river-god swimming to right, ΠEΛΛ AIωN around, date ςMC (year 246 - 183/184 C.E.) in exergue
A SUPERB example of a SCARCE coin from a more difficult city, perfectly centered, clear date and throughout, probably the finest we have seen!
The Jerusalem Talmud (Talmud Yerushalmi) mentions the hot springs of Pella (Hammath dePehal), which is reminiscent of the iconography on this coin. The city was about eight miles east of Bet She'an.
