Colorized Caracalla

Nice. I tried coloring my coin but it didn't come out well at all. What did you use?

 

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Some super nice portraits of Caracalla the man! Here is the only decent portrait I have of Caracalla... the boy. He was no older than 10 years old when this coin was struck. (It is an old eBay listing picture, so the quality isn't high.)

Caracalla as Caesar, 195/96-197/98AD, AR denarius, Rome mint.
Obv.: Caracalla bare-headed, draped bust, right. M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF
Rev.: Lituus, apex, bucranium, and simpulum. DESTINATO IMPERAT
Diam.: 18.5 mm. Weight: 2.7 gr.
Attrib.: RIC IV Rome 6. RSC 53. BMC 193. (Scarce)

I am going to seek a more grown up, manly portrait that looks more like the bust above to accompany this example in my collection.

 

After seeing all these bearded Caracallas, I definitely need to add one to the collection.

 

He looks like the sculpture on these ...

 

My Scowly Caracalla:
Imperial Rome
Caracalla, r. 198-217 (215 A.D.)
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 19.52 mm x 3.43 grams
Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate Head right
Rev.: P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Pax standing left, branch in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left
Ref.: RIC IV-1 Caracalla 268 p. 251

 

Petty cool. They did a good job on the bust. -d

 

Martin WINS! In fact it is a DOUBLE-BONUS win, as it is his Avatar, also!

 

Sestertius of Caracalla with his ominous scowl.
Also, a menacing looking denarius.

 

Caracalla AD 198-217. AR Denarius Rome mint.

Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right
Reverse: VENVS VICTRIX, Venus standing left, resting left arm on shield, holding Victory and sceptre

 

I think the colorized marble bust is an accurate portrait. Finding an accurate portrait on a coin is difficult since they were done in profile. I think the coin I sold several years ago of Caracalla probably had an accurate portrait, see photo below.

 

A little worn but I've always liked this resting-crab-face of Caracalla.

PS: Sorry for the huge photo... tried to resize it but still huge.

 

My feeble attempt was done over a decade ago using the colourise tool in a program called Paint Shop Pro. I don't even have this software any more.

 

Another chance to show off my all-time favorite Roman portrait?



I bought this one (and paid about double the "normal" price) because I was captivated by his facial expression, particularly the care taken to render his furrowed brow and the wrinkles at the top of his nose - the face of a seasoned soldier, who unflinchingly committed fratricide and ordered the citizens of Alexandria slaughtered for rubbing him the wrong way.



As it is a liberalitas denarius and minted specifically to hand out at said event, I like to entertain the idea that a particularly skilled engraver was commissioned to make this obverse die to be used on presentation pieces to the Emperor himself, and his inner circle. Just fantasy of course, but I can't disprove it either

 

I know I've posted this before, but I saw someone else do the same thing, and they stayed true to the bust they were colorizing:

 

Here's a bust of Claudius and a tetradrachm from Alexandria, a fairly close match as these things go, although his ears are a bit oversized on the coin.....