- Genuine Roman Empire bronze AE As coin.
- Struck for Empress Crispina at the Rome Mint by her husband Emperor Commodus, 180-182 CE.
- RIC 686, approx. 25mm, we grade as Very Fine with nice surfaces and even wear.
- Certified by NGC to Genuine.
- Obverse: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right.
- Reverse: VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left holding Victory and scepter.
- Venus Felix ("Lucky Venus") combined aspects of Venus and Fortuna, goddess of both good and bad fortune and personification of luck.
- Crispina was the wife of Emperor Commodus and daughter of L. Fulvius Bruttius Praeseus. Crispina married Commodus, in the summer of 178 (probably July). The actual ceremony was modest but it was commemorated on coinage and largesse was distributed to the people. Like many marriages of young members of the upper orders, it was an arranged marriage: Crispina's father and Marcus Aurelius (Commodus’ father) had arranged for it to occur. Commodus disliked Crispina, presumably due to her character. She was a beautiful woman, but said to be vain and haughty. She received the title of Augusta.
- In 182, Crispina may have been pregnant. She was accused of adultery or treason by her husband and exiled to the island of Capri where she was executed. Her fall is sometimes associated with the conspiracy of Lucilla in 181 or 182. This is consistent with the coinage at Alexandria, where her coinage runs from 178/9 only to 182/3 or 181/2. Alternatively, her fall may have taken place after 187.
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