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Roman Emp., Caracalla, Aureus 206

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:40,000.00 CHF Estimated At:50,000.00 - 62,500.00 CHF
Roman Emp., Caracalla, Aureus 206
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The Roman Empire, Caracalla augustus, 198 – 211, Aureus 206, AV 7.30 g. ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. LAETITIA / TEMPORVM Ship in circus, between four quadrigae l.; in l. field, cockerel standing r. and on r., bear. Beneath ship: lion and two tigers r., bull and tiger l. C 117. BMC 263 and pl. 34, 4 (these dies). RIC 133. Kent-Hirmer pl. 113, 391 (these dies). Calicó 2686 (this coin). Biaggi 1179 (this coin). Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. A finely detailed reverse composition. A few minor marks, otherwise extremely fine Ex Glendining sale 1950, Platt Hall collection part II, 1710; NAC 21, 2001, 501 and NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman, 147 sales. From the Biaggi collection. In 204 the Severans, now a firmly established dynasty, held Saecular Games (Ludi Saeculares) with sacrifices, a donative, Circus races and games, all of which they represented on coin types. It is worth speculating that this is a compression of two separate events, as the four quadrigae above the ship may well represent the Circus races since they are not mentioned in the otherwise superb description by the historian Dio Cassius: ”The whole construction in the amphitheatre was constructed in the form of a ship, and was so conceived that 400 beasts might be received into it, and at the same time be sent forth from it. Then, when it suddenly collapsed there issued out of it bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses and bison, so that seven hundred beasts, both wild and domesticated, were seen running about at the same time and were slaughtered.” (LXXVII, 4-5). The type is so cleverly engraved that many fittings on the deck of the ship are clearly identifiable, as are each of the seven beasts below. Indeed, a viewer of this coin with the commentary of Dio fresh in the mind might almost believe they are witnessing the spectacle unfolding.