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 Replies: 14 / Views: 4,973 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Publia Fulvia Plautilla (c. 185/around 188/189 - early 212) was the only wife of the Roman emperor Caracalla, who was her paternal second cousin. Her family (Fulvia) had been active in Roman politics since the days of the Republic, and her father was Commander of the Praetorian Guard and a close friend of Septimius Severus. The two fathers had arranged for her marriage to Caracalla in 202, but the union was not a happy one. Caracalla despised her as a profligate. Nonetheless, it seems she bore him a daughter in 204. However, the next year her father fell out of favor with Septimius and was executed on charges of treachery. At this time she and her daughter were exiled to Lipari, where they received harsh treatment. That continued until 211, after Septimius died, and Caracalla ordered her to be strangled (probably by hanging). (c.f Wikipedia) Given the timing of her marriage and banishment, all her coins are dated to the short interval 202-205 within the joint reign of Septimius and Caracalla. Though they are not plentiful they were produced in two issues, differentiated by obverse inscription. Coins of the first issue bear the obverse inscription PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE (the dedicatory dative) "to the Augusta Plautilla." The first coin I show here from my collection is from that issue, and features the reverse usually associated with a royal wedding (202 AD): CONCORDIAE AETERNAE (to eternal concord) with the type of Caracalla and Plautilla joining right hands. There is no break in the lettering.  Note that for the bust on this coin her hair is waved from front to back (called "horizontal" by BMCRE) in 7 ridges and bound in a bun high up at the back of her head. This corresponds to BMCRE 401 for Septimius and Caracalla. My second coin is from the second issue with obverse inscription PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA with a reverse PIETAS AVGG featuring Pietas draped, stg front, head r, holding a sceptre nearly vertical in r. hand and cradling a child in her left arm.  In this case the obverse bust has hair that is waved up and down ( BMCRE "vertically") in many lines with a small bun low at the back. This is but one of four styles of treatment for this issue. The presence of the child and the association with the empress' obligation to Pietas for her family (AVGG) seems to place this coin at around 204 AD after the birth of their daughter. ( BMCRE 423 for Septimius and Caracalla) The above two coins were produced at the mint at Rome. However, the Concordia seated and Hilaritas types were produced for both issues at Eastern Mints. I am not able to show one from my collection, but perhaps someone else can fill in the blank. Edited by lrbguy
04/22/2017 12:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
564 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
I've always felt sorry for this empress, marrying the thug Caracalla to make daddy happy.  Here's my coin, with the hair vertically waved and a small bun in the back. Plautilla Denarius, RIC 369, RSC 25, BMC 429 - Plautilla AR Denarius. PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / VENVS VICTRIX, Venus standing left holding apple & palm, leaning on shield, Cupid at her feet. RSC 25 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Finally picked up a Plautilla. Not as nice as Irbguy's but I do enjoy the marriage theme on the reverse.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
949 Posts |
Sorry for the delay, I'm teaching a new class starting this week. Priorities. Nonetheless... I've added a couple more examples as well, and one of them is of your type with complementary flaws. Between the two of us we could piece together a good one. My inscriptions, your images.  The obverse inscription is in the dative, and the reverse has the PROPAGO IMPERI inscription. But on mine she shakes hands with a headless husband, and is blinded by a mudpack on the obverse. Or so it would appear. Anyway, something got out of hand on this one. |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
here is my Venus Victrix coin . albert   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Geez Albert. That coin so thoroughly puts my recently acquired example to shame that I'm tempted just to put my tail/(and tale) between my legs and run. On the other hand, there is a SLIGHTLY different reverse break pattern between them, so here goes:  If you can get past the 2 missing letters in her name, and the lack of detail on the type images, then you will note that the spacing of the letters of the reverse inscription bring the words VENVS and VICTRIX together with less of a gap. (Like that's a really big deal, in this case.) BTW I only mention those points about the break patterns because the BMC catalog gives them separate listings much of the time. I'm not sure what the ground rules for that are though. Edited by lrbguy
08/07/2017 5:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
sorry for the late answer , Irbguy , you have to shame you , you have a very beautiful coin and for me , your reverse is nicer than mine .I can t give you an answer for your BMC catalog , but there is indeed a difference between your coin and Jskirwin's and my coin in the position of the S .For me , the hairstyle is the most interesting and I am still wondering that Plautilla had 4 different hairstyles : it is one a year  . albert |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Finally able to contribute! It seems this type hasn't been posted before: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right with vertical hair waves, drawn up in rear PIETAS AVGG, Pietas standing right, holding scepter and infant RIC 367  Going back to the OP, it seems that this coin may be the only hint that Caracalla and Plautilla had a daughter, although I feel that assertion is dubious, as an infant is a symbol of Pietas, just as the scales are of Aequitas. At any rate, it's nice to mark her off my list! Only missing Elagavalus's wives, and the Severan dynasty is complete! |
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Valued Member
New Zealand
292 Posts |
 Everyone and Awesome coins guys  . I've got a very nice high grade Plautilla Denarius CONCORDIAE AETERNAE (to eternal concord) too. That poor woman what she went through with that bully Caracalla  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Just arrived...Really like the detail on the reverse especially the clothing of Venus... Plautilla AR Denarius. 20mm/2.66gr minted 204 AD Obverse-PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right Reverse- VENVSVICTRIX, Venus standing left holding apple (pomegranite) & palm, leaning on shield,winged Cupid at her feet holding apple or pomegranite or helmet? RIC# 369 This is the same type as lrb's coin showing the reverse legend unbroken.. Paul   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
What a magnificent coin! You give us the best example of a continuous reverse legend in every way possible. Take a bow.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
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Valued Member
Hong Kong
54 Posts |
This is my common example Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) AR Denarius. Rome, AD 202-205. PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / PIETAS AVGG, Pietas standing right, holding sceptre and child. RIC 367 (Caracalla). 3.50g, 19mm, 6h  |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 4,973 |
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Posted 04/22/2017 2:22 pm
