Caracalla, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 203 AD – Dea Caelestis riding Lion

$37.00

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SKU: R4.14 Categories: ,

Description

Roman Imperial,  Caracalla, AR Denarius (silver, 3.01g, 19.6mm), Rome Mint, 203 AD
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG; Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right
Rev:  INDVLGENTIA AVGG; the Dea Caelestis riding right on lion, holding thunderbolt and scepter; below, water gushing from rocks on left; IN CARTH in exergue
Ref: RIC IV 130a; RSC 97 Rarity/Choice: Common, Fine
Note: Caracalla, born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, was the eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus and empress Julia Domna. He became Caesar in AD 196, co-emperor with his father in AD 198, and sole emperor following his father’s death in AD 211. Caracalla’s reign was marked by notable military campaigns and administrative reforms, including the Edict of Caracalla (Constitutio Antoniniana) in AD 212, which extended Roman citizenship to nearly all free inhabitants of the empire. This denarius, struck between AD 201-206, captures a period when Caracalla was co-ruling with his father and strengthening his own image as a capable and divine ruler. This denarius serves as a testament to Caracalla’s efforts to associate himself with divine favor and to project an image of strength and piety. The depiction of the Dea Caelestis and the reference to Carthage highlight his connection to the gods and his influence over the provinces. The coin’s imagery and inscriptions are crafted to reassure the populace of the emperor’s benevolence and divine backing.