On the 8th day of Christmas Caracalla came to me!

Well, technically he hasn't come to me...but look what I just bought today (seller pictures). My first Caracalla, and with Serapis holding a wreath. It also does have a little bit of coppery hue in some areas, which reminds us that this was the beginning of the cliff dive which the denarius went on in the 3rd century. In a few decades it would be no better than a bronze.

As you may or may not know, Caracalla is significant for ordering the last major building project (that we know of) in ancient Rome...the famous baths of Caracalla. Sure, he was a bit tyrannical, but what's a reign of terror when you have nice cool baths to enjoy...well, at least while you still have your head attached to your body.

 

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Great portrait

 

Well, not everyone needs a Balbinus or Julian, but I think everyone needs a Caracalla in their collection. I have plans to be getting a Geta soon too. It's not every day you see two brothers in ancient Roman coinage.

 

Maybe I should get a coin every day from here until Christmas and do threads with the same Christmas theme.

Seriously though, at the risk of sounding like a well-worn and broken record, this is my last coin for the year... until I see another coin I absolutely must have.

 

Wonderful! That's my favorite of the Caracalla Serapis reverses. Such a showy pose, like a tap dancer with a cane, bowing and sweeping his hat .

 

I have never done a coin intervention before.................but I'm afraid we will find ourselves somewhere down the road, when we will look back at this point in time and think...............why didn't we do something when it was merely a coin a week habit.

 

Yes, and as I told Mr. Sallent, this is the very scarce version of Serapis on the Caracalla denarii, holding the corn ears that look like a hat. Do an acsearch and you'll find 100 coins of the god waving, but only a few of this type. This is very much a case where you can throw RIC's "common" rating out the window.

 

I wish I could do a coin a day. However, on a serious note, I've checked off enough boxes in the last 2 months that next year will likely be one or two coins a month.

 

Yes, and I'm afraid you know too well what I like. A bunch of my coins now have "JA Collection" as provenance.

 

That is a very nice coin! Note that this coin is dated TRP XX which is the last year for Caracalla. I have never understood why but his most harsh portraits were a couple years earlier with year 20 starting to look like a more gentile tyrant. My Pluto reverse antoninianus is year 18 (TRP XVIII). It is a 5 headed coin (One Caracalla, One Pluto and Three Cerberus).

 

On a purely historical note, I always found it fascinating that Serapis, an Eqyptian god, became popular enough to be featured on Imperial coins. My understanding is that his popularity increased throughout the empire, starting in the first century. By the time of Caracalla, there was a substantial cult following.

 

An enviable antoninianus!

 

Awesome coin. Where did you leave the wagon?

 

This bit of knowledge and @dougsmit revelation that this coin was minted in the last year of Caracalla's life make me even happier that I bought it.

 

Is it an antoninianus? JA described it as a denarius.

 

Sorry, meant Doug's. I like yours too...a lot.

 

It's often than just one side of a coin is good enough reason for us to buy it; this coin is great on both sides! I am really liking the portrait. Nice score!

 

=> I think a Julian is also a must!



Oh, great looking Caracalla (very sweet)

Should I? (probably not, but I can't resist the opportunity)

Caracalla Denarius



Caracalla Antoninianus

 

Awesome posts!!!

I love everything about your Caracalla coin Sallent!!!

Coincidentally, I found one a few minutes ago that depicts Julia Domna on a denarius with a reverse of Isis nursing Horus (someone here has posted one in the past---Doug?) and I had to go after it. Egyptian Gods on Coins minted in Rome...Amazing.