@Prieure de Sion...That's a big chunk of Bronze!...Really enjoyed the write up Thanks...The fabric of the coin seems strange to me but as there are no other examples? Congrats on a unique coin.

A recent addition to my collection was this Caracalla as Caesar coin..

It shows the Bucranium on the reverse, something you don't see every day on Roman coins...Thought it was an interesting type..

Caracalla, as Caesar. 196-198 AD. AR Denarius (3.00 gm, 17mm). Rome mint. Struck 196-198 AD.
Obv.: M AVR ANTO[N CAES PON]TIF, (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar Pontifex (High priest)), bareheaded and draped bust right.
Rev.: DESTINATO IMPE[RAT],(Designation to the empire,basically calls Caracalla "Emperor to be "), Lituus, Apex, Bucranium, and Simpulum.
RIC#6; BMCRE 193; RSC 53. VF.

@LONGINUS...That's a beautiful run of Emperors and as always wonderfully displayed!

A run of Emperors isn't my collecting strategy but I do have a run from Domitian to Commodus with Empresses just missing Crispina..I do have them in various denominations here's a mix..

Sisters....

Julia Mamaea. Augusta, 222-235 AD. AR Denarius (2,81 gm, 19mm). Rome mint. Struck 222 AD.
Obverse: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, bare headed, draped bust right.
Reverse: IVNO CONS-E-RVATRIX, Juno standing slightly left, holding patera and scepter; to left, peacock standing left.
RIC IV 343 (Severus Alexander); BMCRRE 43-5 (Severus Alexander); RSC 35. gVF.

JULIA SOAEMIAS, mother of Elagabalus. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.87 gm).
Obverse..IVLIA SOEMIAS AVG, draped bust right.
Reverse..VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre; star in left field.
RIC IV 241; BMCRE 45; RSC 8.

@Hughie Dwyer..Very nice way to display your coin collection Hugh!

Trajan & Plotina...

Lydia. Thyateira. Trajan. 98-117 AD. AE 25mm (9.14 gm).
Obv.: ΑΥ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟΝ CΕ ΓΕΡ ΔΑΚΙ , laureate head right.
Rev.: ΘΥΑΤΕΙΡΗΝΩΝ; Athena in long chiton standing facing, head left, holding patera in her extended right hand, resting with left on shield placed on ground beside her, behind which upright spear. RPC III 1823. 

Plotina, AE18 of Gordus-Julia, Lydia. 98-117. Magistrate Poplios.
Obverse..ΠΛΩTEINA CEBACTH, draped bust right
Reverse..EΠI ΠOΠΛIOY ΓOΡΔHNΩ, Zeus seated left, holding patera and sceptre.
BMC 18.

@Amarmur...That's a nice looking portrait!..Neat hairstyling.. Congrats.

I've always thought this Valerian portrait and reverse as nicely engraved for the time period..

Valerian I AR Antoninianus.Rome AD 255-256 ...2.93g
Obverse..IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right
Reverse..FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
RIC 87, Cohen 55; Sear 9936.

Also this sweet portrait of Gallienus..

Gallienus, Antoninianus, Minted AD 258-259 (Joint reign)
Obverse..GALLIENVS dot P dot F dot AVG Radiate, curaissed bust right
Reverse..GERMANICVS MAX V trophy between two seated and bound German captives
RIC VI#18 variant obv legend dots..Cologne

Link...Hadrian.

Hadrian (117- 138). Rome, c. 131-138 AD. Silver Denarius. 2,85 g. 17 mm.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right.

Rev: FORTVNA AVG, Fortuna standing left holding patera and cornucopiae. VF, old collection patina.

RIC#245A

Domitian & Domitia...

Ahh yes, if I ever had to live under the rule of a Roman Emperor it would be Mr Antoninus Pius...Sweet times!

I have a fair few of his coins, here's 4 from start to finish..

This early type was minted in 139AD when his Empress was still alive..

Antoninus Pius AD 138-161. Æ As (27.1mm, 8.14 g.)..Rome mint, struck AD 139.
Obv. Laureate head right.
Rev. Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia.
RIC II 533c (scarce)
Nice VF, good portrait.
Green patina.
Scarce 139 AD emission, without globe and COS II rather than COS III.

Next a coin celebrating the marriage of his daughter to Marcus Aurelius  Caesar around 6 years later..

Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) AR denarius, struck AD 145-161. Rome mint.
Ob..ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP,(Antoninus Augustus Pius Father of the people) laureate head right
Rev..TR POT COS IIII,(Tribune of the people 4 times Consul) Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae, LIB IIII across the fields.
RIC #155 type 1
This coin commemorates Pius' fourth largesse distributed to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Faustina II and Marcus Aurelius Caesar in spring 145 AD.

A big Sestertius showing some of the grandkids...

ANTONINUS PIUS. 138-161 AD. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 26.75 g.)
Struck 159/160 AD.
Obverse..ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXIII, laureate head right
Rev. PIETATI AVG COS IIII SC, Pietas standing left holding globe, Faustina Junior as Pietas standing left, between Faustina Minima, Lucilla & holding baby Fadilla.
RIC III 1031

And alas his demise..

Divus Antoninus Pius. Died 161 AD. AR Denarius (3.21 gm, 18mm). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius, 161 AD. Obv.: DIVVS ANTONINVS, bareheaded bust right, slight drapery.
Rev.: CONSECRATIO, funeral pyre of four tiers, decorated with garlands, surmounted by facing quadriga.
RIC 438 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 27/4-12 (Aurelius); RSC 164a. VF

@Prieure de Sion...Thank you!..That certainly is interesting and will add this info to my spreadsheet..Much appreciated. 

AR Denarius Septimius Severus 193-211 AD ..3.37g. 18mm. 202-210 AD Rome mint.
Obverse- SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Reverse- FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
RIC IV #261

Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. AR Denarius (3,84g). Rome mint.
Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 200-207.
Obverse.JVLIA AVGVSTA Draped bust right
Reverse.PIETAS AVGG Pietas standing left, holding acerrum (incence box) and dropping incense onto lighted and garlanded altar to left.
RIC IV# 572 (Septimius); RSC 150.

@Hughie Dwyer...That's a real beauty!...This type is at the top of my list too I've just not focused 100% on obtaining one yet..Yours is a very nice example with good detail both sides Congrats!

Commodus Denarius (light weight) RIC#126

Commodus AR Denarius.Rome mint 186 AD 1.87gr 17mm

Obverse-M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right

Reverse- P M TR P XI IMP VII COS V PP, Concordia standing front, head left, holding standard in each hand.CONC MIL (below)

@John Conduitt...I'll say it again John, you have a really unique way of collecting which I admire...Great coins...With the "perfect" provenance!

@Roman Collector...Another very interesting post and cool coins...Thanks..

Any idea as to the significance of Aeternitas pulling back her veil? I assume, as it's diva, something to do with the afterlife?

@AncientOne...Really like that depiction of Capricorn! Neat little collection. 

I've always liked the Antioch portrait versions...

Trebonianus Gallus, AR Antoninianus, Antioch, 251-253 AD, 21.6mm; 3.55 gr.
Obverse- IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse- VICTORIA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm.
RIC IV-3, 93;

Loving brothers...

Jaime II Aragon 1291-1327
Dinero (Billon) Approx 18mm diameter - 1.17gr
Obverse - Crowned portrait facing left..Legend around ARA - GON
Reverse - Double cross..Legend around IACOBUS REX
Mint Jaca...Cru-364

@AncientOne..That's a nice portrait!

Cool coins to collect! Not too expensive but having nice detail..

Philip I Antoninianus AD 244 / 249
Obverse..IMP M IVL PHILIPPUS AVG.... radiate, draped bust right.
Reverse..LIBERALITAS AVGGII... liberalitus standing right holding abacua and cornucopiae.
RIC 38b
4th Issue 5th Officina...This donative was given to celebrate the arrival of the Royal Family in Rome AD245

Philip II... AR Antoninianus 247-249AD(23mm, 4.29g, 1h). Rome, AD 247.
Obverse..IMP PHILIPPUS AVG...Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse..PAX AETERNA...Pax standing left, holding olive branch and short sceptre.
RIC IV 231c; RSC 23

Ceylon...

I'm thrilled to add these recent additions to my Caracalla collection.
I've been looking for a "Caesar" coin of Caracalla for a while now and jumped at the opportunity of purchasing these two types, which came up for sale from a seller I regularly buy from, the first coin being the earliest reverse type of Caracalla as "Caesar" which is .It was minted in 195-196 AD when he was around a mere 8 years old..

At this point I'll add a little bit of history just in case there are collectors out there who aren't familiar with this sweet little boys life!

Ok..Caracalla was born in Lugdunum (Lyon), Gaul (France) on the 4th April 188AD to his father, the future Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) and his mother Julia Domna (193-211). His birth name was Lucius Septimius Bassianus and at the age of 7 was renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, but we all know him by his nickname of 'Caracalla'. The name derived from a Gallic hooded tunic he wore probably during the Rhine and Danube campaigns. He reigned from 198 - 217, Co-ruled with his father from 198-211 and with his younger brother Geta from 209-211 (that's another story)!. His father died in early February 211 leaving Caracalla and his brother Geta to co-rule. This didn't work out well and in late December of the same year Caracalla had his brother Geta murdered...Caracalla now continued to rule as sole Agusta for another 6 years until in April 217 whilst travelling to Carrhae in modern Turkey, he was stabbed to death by an irrate soldier named Justin Martialis. This was probably incited by Macrinus who held the position of Praetorian Prefect at the time and would become the next Emperor.

In AD195/6 Caracalla was given the Imperial rank of "Caesar", he was 8 years old and 2 years later in AD198 rose to joint Augustus with his father Septimius Severus, the young boy was still only around 10 years old!..This small 2 year period makes his coinage as "Caesar" a little less common and an area I've become very interested in...

Here's the first coin showing a very stern looking lad!! This is the earliest type Denarius of Caracalla as "Caesar"..Looking at this portrait I think the alarm bells should've been ringing at this point but hey it's Rome!

Coin 1...

Caracalla, as Caesar, 196-198 AD. AR Denarius (3.21 gm, 17mm). Rome mint. Struck 195-196 AD.
Obv.: M AVR ANTONINVS CAES,(Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar), bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev.: SEVERI AVG PII FIL,(To Severus, son of the pious Emperor Augustus), Lituus, Sacrificial knife (axe), Guttus, Simpulum and Aspergilum.
RIC#4. gVF.


Shown on the reverse are 5 sacrificial implements. I've noticed that if the implements are individually described by sellers they are quite often incorrectly named which is probably a copy and paste tipo. Here's a breakdown of what I'm seeing portrayed on the reverse...

Firstly to the left is the Lituus...A curved Augurs staff which was used as a cult instrument in ancient Roman religion by Augurs to mark out a ritual space in the sky called the "Templum". The Augurs were basically priests who practiced Augury, being the interpretation of the will of the gods within the "Templum". This could encompass the flight of birds, cloud shapes and of course at night the star formations..Also anything in between!

Here's a nice print showing an Auger proclaiming "They will attack from the East"...Maybe check out your Western Borders just in case!?....


Next to the Lituus is a Sacrificial knife/axe. Probably don't have to explain in too much detail what this was used for!?...........................Yeh why not?...Used for slitting the jugular of larger animals such as oxen, sheep, pigs and goats etc or simply decapitating smaller creatures such as chickens or geese in one foul swoop!


In the centre is the Guttus being a narrow necked ceramic or glassen vessel used in sacrificial ceremonies for pouring (in drops only) water or oil during the offerings.


To the right of the guttus is the Simpulum. This was a small, long-handled ladle used when making libations by pouring sacred wine over the head of the sacrificial victim.


Lastly to the right is the Aspergilham...A sacred water sprinkler. This was a staff or rod tipped with an animals tail used to purify an area or sacrificial animal.


Coin 2..

This second coin was minted probably around a year or less before the young caesar became joint Augustus...The portrait has a much softer rendition of the young 9/10 year old...Again the reverse shows sacrificial implements, this time there are 4 but two of them are different from "Coin 1".

Coin 2..

Caracalla, as Caesar. 196-198 AD. AR Denarius (3.00 gm, 17mm). Rome mint. Struck 196-198 AD.
Obv.: M AVR ANTO[N CAES PON]TIF, (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar Pontifex (High priest)), bareheaded and draped bust right.
Rev.: DESTINATO IMPE[RAT],(Designation to the empire,basically calls Caracalla "Emperor to be "), Lituus, Apex, Bucranium, and Simpulum.
RIC#6; BMCRE 193; RSC 53. VF.


Interestingly...
The following information comes from Harlan J Berk: The reverse calls Caracalla "emperor to be", a title accorded otherwise only to Titus as Caesar. The bucranium, here depicted with a beaded band tied around the bull's forehead and hanging down on both sides, is an unusual priestly attribute on Roman coins, otherwise occurring only on a small medallion of Commodus Caesar (BM pl. 84,13) on the aureus and denarius of Augustus once attributed to Caius Caesar

Far left and right are again showing the Lituus and Simpulum, described above on "coin 1".

But here (middle left) is shown an Apex. This was a religious cap worn by certain priests. Usually pointed at the top and held in place using two ties under the chin.

Next to the Apex (middle right) is the most, imo, interesting implement being the Bucranium (ox skull). This was a symbol used in ritual sacrice being actually real or an object carved in stone or wood and probably originated from the ancient practice of sacrificing garlanded oxen to the gods as far back as neolithic times. Perhaps the most famous ancient example of a sculpted bucranium survives on the remaining section of the entablature of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus (80s AD) in the Roman Forum.Along with the bucranium are sculpted representations of the instruments of sacrifice: the whisk or aspergillum for sprinkling wine or water on the animal's head, the mallet for stunning it, the axe for killing it, the knife for cutting it up, a ceremonial wine jug, the patera or shallow plate for holding the wine, and the priest's headgear.



Please feel free to post your coins of Caracalla as caesar..