Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
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Caracalla, as Augustus (AD 198-217). AR denarius (20mm, 3.08 gm, 7h). NGC XF 4/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 206. ANTONINVS-PIVS AVG, laureate head of Caracalla right / LAETITIA / TEMPORVM, galley under sail in center of Circus Maximus; four quadrigae charging left above; wild animals below (from left to right): ostrich standing right, lion and two tigers chasing wild donkey right, bull butting left, and bear standing right, head reverted. RIC IV.I 157. Rare. Steel gray toning.
From the Morris Collection.
The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus. We have a detailed account from Cassius Dio of another earlier event: "The entire receptacle in the amphitheatre had been constructed so as to resemble a boat in shape, and was capable of receiving or discharging four hundred beasts at once; and then, as it suddenly fell apart, there came rushing forth bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses, bisons [...] so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.'' (Cass. Dio 77.1.4-5).
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD
Caracalla, as Augustus (AD 198-217). AR denarius (20mm, 3.08 gm, 7h). NGC XF 4/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 206. ANTONINVS-PIVS AVG, laureate head of Caracalla right / LAETITIA / TEMPORVM, galley under sail in center of Circus Maximus; four quadrigae charging left above; wild animals below (from left to right): ostrich standing right, lion and two tigers chasing wild donkey right, bull butting left, and bear standing right, head reverted. RIC IV.I 157. Rare. Steel gray toning.
From the Morris Collection.
The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus. We have a detailed account from Cassius Dio of another earlier event: "The entire receptacle in the amphitheatre had been constructed so as to resemble a boat in shape, and was capable of receiving or discharging four hundred beasts at once; and then, as it suddenly fell apart, there came rushing forth bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses, bisons [...] so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.'' (Cass. Dio 77.1.4-5).
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD