Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIII 23 March 2017
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Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 216. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / P M TR P XVIIII COS IIII P P, radiate lion radiate walking to left, thunderbolt in jaws. RIC 283a; C. 366; Biaggi -; Calicó 2754; BMC -; Hill 1546.
Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
From the Ambrose Collection.
This aureus was struck at the beginning of Caracalla's ill fated campaign against the Parthian Empire, and a year before the emperor's assassination in AD 217. The invasion of Parthia in 216 was the culmination of an aggressive foreign policy in the east, and followed the invasions of adjoining kingdoms, which resulted in the annexation of Osroene. Prior to the invasion, Caracalla had agreed to marry the daughter of King Artabanus V and commit to maintaining peace in the region, only to attack the bride and guests at the wedding in order to provoke war.
The reverse design alludes to Caracalla's eastern military ambitions at this time, depicting a radiate lion with a thunderbolt in its jaws. Whilst the radiate lion is a clearly solar symbol and thus represents the East, the thunderbolt refers to Jupiter. This composite image therefore has been interpreted as Roman dominance over the east, and as a symbol of the combined divinity of Jupiter and Sol. Caracalla is thus drawing heavily on celestial imagery to propagandise his eastern campaign; the type would subsequently be revived by Philip I, Philip II, Gallienus, Aurelian and Probus, all of whom mounted campaigns in the East.
The lion type may also have held some personal significance for Caracalla, who Cassius Dio tells us would surround himself with lions, one of which was a special pet called Akinakes (Persian for 'short sword') that was his companion at table and in bed. However it may have lost some of its shine for Caracalla when, after having been disturbed by a dream of his father Septimius warning him he would avenge Caracalla's murder of his brother, his lion Akinakes seized him and tore his clothes, fulfilling the bad omen of his dream.
Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
From the Ambrose Collection.
This aureus was struck at the beginning of Caracalla's ill fated campaign against the Parthian Empire, and a year before the emperor's assassination in AD 217. The invasion of Parthia in 216 was the culmination of an aggressive foreign policy in the east, and followed the invasions of adjoining kingdoms, which resulted in the annexation of Osroene. Prior to the invasion, Caracalla had agreed to marry the daughter of King Artabanus V and commit to maintaining peace in the region, only to attack the bride and guests at the wedding in order to provoke war.
The reverse design alludes to Caracalla's eastern military ambitions at this time, depicting a radiate lion with a thunderbolt in its jaws. Whilst the radiate lion is a clearly solar symbol and thus represents the East, the thunderbolt refers to Jupiter. This composite image therefore has been interpreted as Roman dominance over the east, and as a symbol of the combined divinity of Jupiter and Sol. Caracalla is thus drawing heavily on celestial imagery to propagandise his eastern campaign; the type would subsequently be revived by Philip I, Philip II, Gallienus, Aurelian and Probus, all of whom mounted campaigns in the East.
The lion type may also have held some personal significance for Caracalla, who Cassius Dio tells us would surround himself with lions, one of which was a special pet called Akinakes (Persian for 'short sword') that was his companion at table and in bed. However it may have lost some of its shine for Caracalla when, after having been disturbed by a dream of his father Septimius warning him he would avenge Caracalla's murder of his brother, his lion Akinakes seized him and tore his clothes, fulfilling the bad omen of his dream.