It's all about that Bass-ianus (no Geta)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARACALLA!!
Born 4 April 188
Died 8 April 217 (aged 29)
Reigned 198 - 8 April 217

Yup, it's another year and time again to celebrate the man born 1827 years ago today as Lucius Septimius Bassianus. We know him better as Caracalla, that happy-go-lucky young fellow who tried to kill his father, had his wife and her daughter strangled, and made brotherly hatred an art form. Indeed, anyone writing his biography could really just chapter it using the track listing of a Slayer album.

But hey, let's be collectors and not judgers, and give the proverbial props where they are due. Afterall, this is the man who gave us the antoninianus, a masterstroke of fiscal debasement and an all-round cool denomination. He also set the gold standard for the scowling 'military man of action' portraits on coins that were copied so much less stylishly by that whole series of hard-nosed 3rd century soldier-emperors. His chubby kid portraits were kind of cute too.

Anyway, please share your Caracalla coins and encomiums. No Geta, please .

CARACALLA, Denarius, AD 201-206. RIC 124b.


CARACALLA, Denarius, AD 213. RIC 225.


CARACALLA, Antoninianus, AD 215. RIC 281a.

 

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Could you write my obituary when the time comes? lol

 

Sure, just toss a couple of coins my way... Nabataens or whatever, I'm easy .

 

What a wickedly amusing writeup, Z! Thanks for the laughs

Caracalla has tons of interesting coins, especially provincials. I have only one provincial (a purposeful purchase) and one denarius (from a mixed lot).


THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla
CE 198-217
AE29, 16.4 gm
Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent
Ref: Varbanov 5007


Caracalla, 198-217 AD
Rome, struck 215 AD
AR denarius, 19 mm, 3.8 gm
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right (looks like GURM instead of GERM)
Rev: PM TRP XVIII COS IIII, Fides standing left holding two standards
Ref: RIC 266, RSC 315, BMC 143, ICD-10 F60.2 and Z62.891

 

This would be an appropriate time to post the only existing portrait of the Severan family, which resides in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. It was sent to Egypt to publicize the royal family. Poor Geta got scratched out on his brother's orders after he had him eliminated...

 

Happy Birthday, C-Dawg!!

=> Ride dem oxen, birthday-boy!!

Caracalla AR Antoninianus
Rome mint
198-217 A.D.
Struck AD 215
Diameter: 24 mm
Weight: 5.19 grams
Obverse: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: Radiate / Luna driving biga of oxen left
Reference: RIC IV 256c; RSC 294a

 

I've already told you how much I love that coin, Steve, but here we go again. I love that coin!

 

The ages of Caracalla:

 

I'll offer two Caracalla types unlikely to have been seen elsewhere. First is a denarius that is probably barbarous but looks a lot like what might be expected if there had been official Syrian issues for him in the 'Old Style' period. The reverse is the BONI EVENTVS standing common to Septimius. The obverse portrait is younger than the first Laodicea Caracalla issues. This is the only one I have seen. Perhaps it is barbarous; perhaps it was made by mint staff after the mint was closed. I'll never know for sure.


Jumping all the intervening issues, the last Caracalla coins are posthumous. Scholars of the past have disputed whether the DIVO ANTONINO MAGNO issues were coined under Elagabalus or Severus Alexander so I'll go out on a limb and suggest we attribute them to the real power in the period Julia Maesa. Sestertii of the type are considerably more rare than the precious metals and all show a pyre with 5 layers. Banti lists and illustrates with a drawing a four layer coin reported by Valliant but unknown today. My coin is a bronze disease survivor with considerable excavation on the obverse. Is it the remains of the coin Valliant saw? Was it tooled from a 5 layer coin? The obverse is the same die as a known Divus sestertius so I do not believe it is a total fabrication. Its condition would keep it from being of interest to the crowd with money so I need to find someone to give it to when I'm done with it. I know no one who specializes in Caracalla.

 

Doug, I think anyone on this thread would gladly relocate it for you....

Incredible posts everyone!!

 

I have others but will post these two.

 

It would have to be Doug who shows us something different. I'd love to have that barbarous/Syrian/whatever denarius. Very very cool!

 

I think all of us would love and benefit from viewing his vast collection personally. It would put some of the museums to shame. Same with Martins collection.

It saddens me a bit that his relatives have no interest in such amazing stuff.

 

happy birthday caracalla! here are my top 3 (i only have 4!)



trajanopolis, with eros and dolphin







another provincial from thrace, ugly but rare.








with his mom....thrace yet again.



yeah, i think i read in gibbon's book that caracalla was a huge slayer fan.

 

Lol. And I'm a huge fan of that Eros riding a dolphin type. On the want list.

 

Hello,
Caracalla is my favorite !! I have many coins, but this one also that you do not see much often, large coin with the the temple of Emesa(Homs).

Have all a wonderful Easter holidays

 

Awesome coins Z, i'm sure this guy didn't have to many happy Birthdays, he must of been born grumpy.

I have one Caracalla coin and one fake.
EX jw tribe.
He kind of looks happy here!

 

That's a nice looking coin John. That JW must be a sucker for gettin' rid of that coin!

 

No sucker, one of my favorite coins, that jw guy is the best.