Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 531 25-26 Jan 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.21 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 207. Laureate head right / Caracalla standing right, holding reversed spear and parazonium; at feet to left, river god reclining on urn right; to right, two bound captives seated left. RIC IV 96; RSC 441. Toned. Good VF.
From the Dr. Michael Slavin Collection. Ex CNG inventory 735790 (July 2003); Marc Melcher Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 63, 21 May 2003), lot 1437.
In AD 206-207, Caracalla was in Britain, overseeing campaigns against the northern tribes and restoring the crumbling fortifications of Hadrian's Wall. This coin most likely marks these events. The descriptions of the reverse in both RIC and BMCRE are inaccurate; the two outer figures are clearly river gods-bearded, half-draped men holding river reeds. They probably represent the rivers Eden and Tyne, which Hadrian's Wall follows for much of its length. The seated female figure under the protection of the emperor must logically be Britannia.
From the Dr. Michael Slavin Collection. Ex CNG inventory 735790 (July 2003); Marc Melcher Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 63, 21 May 2003), lot 1437.
In AD 206-207, Caracalla was in Britain, overseeing campaigns against the northern tribes and restoring the crumbling fortifications of Hadrian's Wall. This coin most likely marks these events. The descriptions of the reverse in both RIC and BMCRE are inaccurate; the two outer figures are clearly river gods-bearded, half-draped men holding river reeds. They probably represent the rivers Eden and Tyne, which Hadrian's Wall follows for much of its length. The seated female figure under the protection of the emperor must logically be Britannia.