Watch List notes:

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla, 198-217. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 29mm, 17.93 g 8), 215. AΥT K M AΥΡ CEVH ANTΩNEINOC Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Rev. KOINON ΘΡAKΩN AΛEZANΔΡIA EN ΦIΛI/ΠΠOΠO / ΠVΘI-A Herakles Farnese standing facing, leaning on club set on rocks to his right and with his lion skin over his left arm. Lanz 102, 28 May 2001, 751 (same dies). Cf. Varbanov 1436 var. ( but Caracalla's head left). Rare. Good very fine.


This coin commemorates the Alexandrian-Pythian games held in Philippopolis in 215 on the occasion of the emperor's visit. By re-naming the games in honour of Alexander, the city flattered Caracalla, whose imitatio alexandri was well known.