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 Replies: 21 / Views: 5,603 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
The oldest son of Emperor Septimus Severus, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. known to history as Caracalla, was bequeathed joint rule with his brother Geta, but soon seized sole control by luring him to a meeting with their mother and having him murdered there. A bloodthirsty reign followed, in which many patricians were liquidated for no other reason than Caracalla envied them their accomplishments and property. He also had Alexandria sacked in a fit of pique over a satire that originated there. It's a measure of Caracalla's lack of scruples that he defiled a Vestal Virgin and then condemned her for her impurity. Such wanton terrorizing of his subjects made it really not too surprising that ultimately Caracalla was assassinated by his own guard while campaigning in the east.   Another coin that just appealed to me, with its very well executed portrait and martial reverse. Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
02/06/2016 8:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice coin. His young hansom looks were very deceiving, he turned out to be a vicious tyrant.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Great portrait presentation. Nice example.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
a nice denarius with a good portrait and a cool reverse....solid pick up LC!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Very nice, it is the same type as a coin I had go missing in the post last year. I could not find another as appealing despite the quantity of Caracalla denarii on the market. As everyone else says it is the combination of the crazy looking portrait with the pleasing reverse - this makes it stand out from the rest as something a bit more special.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4883 Posts |
A long overdue update on this specimen - I've tentatively identified the figure on the reverse as Roma, and the coin as RIC 69 (RSC 499, Sear 6856) dating to 203 AD.
Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Here're two more. Apollo on the reverse, RIC 238a (Sear 6831, RSC 242). Apparently a common type, but browsing through various available photos showing stylistic variations, I'm not seeing the exact same reverse die anywhere (the shape of the lyre on this specimen is distinctive).   Venus holding Victory on this one, RIC 311b (Sear 6890, RSC 606), but once again while evidently plentiful, I can't find a precise match for this reverse, either (the rendition of the shield in this case being the obvious thing not being duplicated).   Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
It can be fun to collect Caracalla portraits according to stages of maturity. Sear, in Roman Silver Coins v3 lists over a dozen obverses grouped by stage: boy - older boy - youth - man. These vary by growth of beard as well as the usual costume and headdress.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Another one just acquired from a reputable dealer specializing in ancients. This catalogues as RIC 216, supposedly a somewhat scarce issue. . I judge this to be a superior specimen in terms of condition. Besides exhibiting imperceptible wear, both dies seem to have been relatively fresh, the flan was not grossly irregular in shape, and the strike well centered on each side. It'd be hard to better, I think.   In researching this coin, I've come across various takes on what Liberalitas is holding in her right hand - some describe it as a tablet, others as a "coin counter" or abacus. Another interpretation I've seen is that it's coinage about to be thrown to the populace, which would certainly be in keeping with the notion of largesse associated with Liberalitas. Is there any consensus as to what this actually is supposed to represent, and its symbolism vis-à-vis the personification? Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
09/10/2016 6:44 pm
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Moderator
United States
34416 Posts |
great pick-up!  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
You are assembling quite the collection!
Very nice!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Had to have this one on account of its very flattering and handsome likeness of a still youthful Caracalla. The incomplete obverse legend hinders identification but enough's discernable that I'm reasonably confident in calling it as RIC 26, a scarce issue dating to 198 AD. The flan's somewhat undersized at only 16mm in diameter, but it's thick, so the weight comes in at 3.30 grams. The reverse is slightly concave, although some of the details of the recessed central device seem nevertheless flattened out a bit.   Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
09/20/2016 6:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
That itch just wont go away will it Cuss I only have one which is a RIC 231a, I will dig it out for a picture for you. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Quote:
I only have one which is a RIC 231a, I will dig it out for a picture for you. I'd like to see that (and any others anybody else would like to post here). Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
Sorry about the delay Cuss, I ran out of flips and didn't want to pop it until I got some more. Caracalla - RIC 231a   |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 5,603 |
Posted 02/06/2016 6:04 pm
