Caracalla                  198 - 217 A.D.

Caracalla's real name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. He got the nickname from his habit of wearing a cloak by the same name. Caracalla was the elder son of Septimius Severus and brother of Geta whom he positively hated. Hated so much, in fact, that he had him murdered a few years later. In the mayhem that followed, Caracalla's men went on a killing spree of anyone suspected of being a Geta sympathizer. In the massacre, it's estimated up to 20,000 people lost their lives. Caracalla would go on to rule for another five years but his bad karma caught up with him and he was assassinated in a plot perpetrated by Macrinus.

As an emperor Caracalla possessed few redeeming qualities and among the worst of them would be his ruinous drain on the treasury. Because he knew everyone hated him he sought the protection of the army. And the surest way of getting this protection was to buy it outright. He raised the pay of the solider to about four denarii per day, nearly quadrupling the salary of just a few years prior. And on top of their regular salary he heaped endless bonuses and other concessions meant to endear them. This money could only have come by the oppressive taxation of ordinary citizens as well as the seizures of property of the wealthy under trumped-up charges. This not only intensified the hatred against him but also had the effect of corrupting the military who had become accustomed to this life of luxury and throwing the economy into lasting disarray.

 

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG: Draped and laureat bust right

Rev. ADVENTVS AVGG: Galley under oars (refers to Severus and Caracalla returning

to Rome, 202 A.D., from second Eastern campaign

Sear 1914, C. 3, Van Meter 12

AR Denarius ca. 196--198 A.D.

16 mm.

Obv. M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF: Draped and bare-headed bust right

Rev. DESTINATO IMPERAT: Lituus, apex, bucranium, and simpulum

C. 53, Van Meter 20

AR Denarius ca. 210--213 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT: Laureate head right

Rev. INDVLG FECVNDAE: Indulgentia seated left on curule bench, holding scepter (May honor

Julia Domna)

C. 104, Van Meter 32

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

3.14 gm., 18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM 213--217 A.D.): Laureate head right

Rev. INDVLGENTIAE AVG: Indulgentia seated left, holding patera and scepter

RIC 300,Sear ME 6806. Van Meter 31

AR Denarius 198--217 A.D.

Rome

18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT: Laureate head right

Rev. MONETA AVG: Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae

C. 165, Van Meter 50

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

Rome

3.0 g., 18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM: Laureate bust right

Rev. PM TR P XVIII COS IIII PP: Serapis, his chest bare and a modius on his head, standing

left, holding scepter and raising hand

C. 280, Van Meter 63/5

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

Rome ca. 207 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. PONTIF TR P X COS II: Caracalla standing left, holding a spear and parazonium, one

bound captive on the left and two river gods leaning on urns

C. 441, Sear 1944v., Van Meter 73

AR Denarius 198--217 A.D.

Rome

17 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM: Laureate, draped bust right

Rev. PM TR P XVIIII COS IIII PP: Serapis, his chest bare and a modius on his head,

standing left, holding a scepter and raising his right hand

RSC 348, Van Meter 64/5

AR Denarius 198--217 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG: Laureate bust right

Rev. SECVRIT IMPERII: Securitas seated right, with scepter and cornucopiae, altar at

her feet

N/D

AR Denarius 198--217 A.D.

3.38 g., 20 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. SAL GEN HVM: Salus holding serpent-wreathed scepter, raising kneeling figure of

the human race; "the safety of the human race"

BM-701, C. 558, Van Meter 88

AR Denarius 196--216 A.D.

16 mm.

Obv. IMP CAE M AVR ANT AVG P TR P: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev. SPES PVBLICA: Spes advancing left, holding a flower and raising the hem of her dress

Sear 1957, C. 600, Van Meter 96

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

Rome ca. 198 A.D.

20 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG: Draped and laureate bust right

Rev. VICT PART MAX: Victory running left, holding wreath and palm

C. 664, SR 1962, Van Meter 104

AR Denarius 196--217 A.D.

Rome 202 A.D.

3.74 g., 18 mm.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. VOT SVSC DEC PON TR P V COS: Caracalla sacrificing at a tripod altar (refers

to the fifth anniversary of his reign and to vows

made for ten years of prosperous rule)

BM-396, C. 686, Van Meter 112

AE Sestertius 196--217 A.D.

28 mm. 198 A.D.

Obv. M AVR ANTONINVS CAES: Draped bust right

Rev. SECVRITAS PERPETVA: Minerva wearing aegis, standing left, holding shield and spear

RIC 403

Roman Imperial Caracalla

AR Denarius 196-217 A.D.

18 mm.

Rome, ca. 204 A.D.

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG

Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. IIII LIBERALITAS AVGG

Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae

Refers to the fourth donative, in conjunction with the Saecular Games

C. 122, Van Meter 39