Roman Coins in Reverse - a Chronological Gallery

[ambr0zie]

For a long time I had only 1 Geta provincial coin in my collection, but for me this has an interesting reverse, perfect for my animal themed coins. 

18 mm, 3,86 g.
Ionia, Ephesos. Geta as Caesar 198-211. Ӕ. 209-211.
Λ CEΠ ΓETAC K, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / EΦECIΩN, stag standing right.
Karwiese 553; SNG Cop 428 var.

Last year I was on a small Geta spree and I consider all the examples I got excellent and only 1 with a dull reverse. 

Another excellent reverse, specific to this city:

30 mm, 13,72 g.
Pontus, Amasia. Geta as Caesar, 198-209. Ӕ. 208-209. Π CЄΠTI ΓЄTAC KЄCAP, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta, right / AΔP CЄY ANT AMACIAC MH NЄ ΠP ΠO / ЄT CH, altar of Zeus Strateus, on the altar a dead bull with its legs up; on the bull, an eagle, standing facing, head left, with wings spread, holding a crown in its beak; tree to left. RG 96.

An interesting coin where the attribution is unclear - anyway apparently not catalogued. I wanted an Eros/Thanatos reverse for a long time. 

18 mm, 2,74 g. 
Thrace, Hadrianopolis. Geta as Caesar, 198-209. Ӕ assarion. 
Λ CE (?) CΓETA CK, laurate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AΔΡIANOΠOΛITΩN (?), Thanatos or Weary Eros, winged, standing right leaning on burning torch. 
Unpublished. Similar to Varbanov 3657 (different obv and rev legend). Another possible city – Dionysopolis (also unpublished) 

Getting into Imperials, I have 2 coins - one with Geta as a young man, Caesar and one with him as a bearded adult.

This coin was bought for the obverse. The reverse is dull and also the strike is imperfect and/or worn die. But it's a little dark humor for Geta to have a Felicitas coin knowing his fate. 

20 mm, 3,11 g.
Geta, as Caesar 198-209. AR denarius. Rome. 200-202.
P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed and draped bust to right / FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing to left, holding caduceus and cornucopia.
RIC IV 9a; BMCRE 220; RSC 38a.

Last Geta in my collection - an excellent reverse. And not very common in Roman coinage. Also - with Geta as Augustus - these coin are much rarer than his Caesar coins from what I noticed. 

18 mm, 3,1 g.
Geta as Augustus 209-212 AD. Rome. AR denarius.
P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / TR P III COS II P P, Janus standing facing, holding sceptre and thunderbolt.
BMC 12; RSC 197a; RIC 79.

I also want to show this Domna denarius. I did not want to show it in the Septimius Severus post because this was struck in 211 - and judging after the reverse legend, Geta was joint ruler. Although the condition is not so great, I find this reverse being very powerful propaganda - Domna is mother of the emperors, mother of the Senate, mother of the country. 

18 mm, 2,68 g.
Julia Domna. Augusta 193-217. AR denarius. Struck under Caracalla – 211 AD.
IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, bust of Julia Domna, hair elaborately waved in ridges and turned up low at the back, draped, right / MAT AVGG MAT SEN M PATR, Julia Domna, draped, seated left, holding branch in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand.
RIC IV Caracalla 381 (denarius).

[lrbguy]

For  Septimius Severus and his wife, Julia Domna, particularly for the latter, the coinage crosses over 4 temporal ranges as follows:

• 193-197 : Wars of Succession: Rise of Septimius Severus to the throne
• 198-209: Joint Reign of Septimius and his first son, Caracalla
• 209-211: Join Reign of Septimius and both sons, Caracalla and Geta
• 211-218: Sole Reign of Caracalla

Domna's coinage in paricular shows the divisions by the form o obverse inscription used.  Beyond the temporal divisions, the coins were minted at select Eastern mints as well as Rome.  Here will be shown a small sampler of coins for each of these eras for both Septimius and Julia Domna from all but one of the mints (sorry Alexandria).

 

Septimius

Wars of Succession - 193-197

LEG XI CL  Legionary series from Rome. early 193 during the wars of succession

 

SAECVLI FELICIT    BMC 390  attrib to the mint at Emesa

 

Joint Reign of Septimius and Caracalla   198-209

198-202 //  BMCRE SC 139  // ROME //  L SEPT SEV AVG IMP - XI PART MAX  //   VICTORIAE AVGG FEL  [long ribbon in both hands over round shield on low base]

Compare this coin with the one shown by Donna above and observe the differences in a similar type.

 

Joint Reign of Septimius,  Caracalla, and Geta   209-211

SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT 

210-211   //   BMCRE SCG 61    //    VICTORIAE BRIT

We have seen something like this reverse type before under the coins of Commodus who similarly struggled to keep peace in Britannia.

 

Sole Reign of  Caracalla  211-218

Consecration issue For Septimius Severus with funeral pyre;

Issued by Caracalla from Rome  212-218

 

Julia Domna

Wars of Succession  (193-197)

Obverse Inscription: IVLIA DOMNA AVG  (193-197)

 

SAECVLI FELICIT    193-197 

BMCRE Wars 421 Eastern mint (Emesa or Laodicea) 

The reverse of this coin can be compared to that above for Septimius (which was attributed to Emesa)

 

Here follows a set of three of the same coin type from different mints.  Compare also the the examples shown by Ambr0zie above:

 193-196?      VENERI VICTR    BMCRE Wars 51          Rome

This Venus type was introduced on Imperial silver by coins for Julia Titi, and has been ubiquitous up to this point (and beyond). The use of the word Veneri here is a marker for the mint at Rome.

      Characteristicly Eastern mints dropped the "I" on Veneri  hence:

 193-197  VENER VICTOR     BMCRE Wars 423        Eastern mint (Emesa or Laodicea)

As long as letters are being cut out:

  193-197?        VENER V ICT      BMCRE Wars 424          Eastern mint (Emesa or Laodicea) UNL

The style is a bit more rough than what we have seen so far, and more has dropped out of the reverse inscription. This type is unlisted and I am inclined to attribute it to Emesa but open to other interpretations.

 

Obverse Inscription: IVLIA AVGVSTA   (196-211)

Joint Reign of Septimius and Caracalla   198-209

198-209            FECVNDITAS          BMCRE S&C 21
198-209            FECVNDITAS          BMCRE S&C 21

This reverse type features a goddess (Fecunditas or Terra) being ministered to by four hominoid figures representing the four seasons, as she reclines under a branch or vine resting between a fruit basket and large (celestial?) globe.

Compare the details of this image with this next for similarities and differences.  Both are attributed to Rome.

 

 

 

198-209           MATER AVGG            BMC S&C 48

In this reverse type the ancient goddess Cybele is towered in a headdress and seated on on a throne driving a quadriga of lions.  The plural reference to Augusti  (AVGG) is noteworthy at a time when her husband was sharing the throne with one of her two sons.  Aspirations for the younger son?

This image must be compared with the next:

          MATER DEVM            BMC S&C 51  Left hand variant

Here Cybele sits enthroned with towered headpiece between two lions (her sons?) while the inscription stays in the singular. 

 

         MATRI CASTRO - R  VM     BMC S57      Julia stands at right sacrificing out of a patera over an altar, while two military standards stand nearby to the left.

We have run into the Mater Castrorum image before on the coins of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius.  Here her service to the troops is taken up with the offering of sacrifices, presumably on their behalf.  But this next example nuances the image still further.

 

         [MATRI C]ASTRO - RUM         BMC S58-59

Here the figure on the reverse is seated holding out a bird (sometimes identified as a phoenix).  The image is that of a counsellor seeking higher wisdom to aid the military figures in her charge. Presumably solace and counsel (perhaps spiritual) were a large part of the work the Madame of the Camp rendered.

 

Joint Reign of Septimius, Caracalla, and Geta   209-211

skipped

 

 Sole Reign of Caracalla   211-218

Obverse Inscription: IVLIA PIA  -  FELIX  AVG  (193-197)

11          LVNA LVCIFERA    Luna with a crescent on her head and a cloak floating around, drives a biga of gallant steeds.

This is one of the early antoniniani after Caracalla introduced its as a double denarius. 

My next post will present some material which is transitional from the parents to their children in the Imperial manner of things.

[happy_collector]

I only have a single coin on Geta, and it has a quite interesting reverse design.  

THRACE. Hadrianopolis. Geta (209-211). AE 
Obv: AVT K Π CEΠTMIOC ΓETAC. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛITΩN. Herakles standing left, fighting Lernean Hydra which he grasps with his left hand, wielding club with right.
Varbanov 3685.
28mm, 12.43 g.
Numismatik Naumann. April 2022

Edited August 22, 2023 by happy_collector

[lrbguy]

Among the coins of the early Severans, my highest favorites are what are commonly called the "Dynastic Issues."  These are coins which feature effigies of either Dad or Mom on one side of the coin, and effigies of one or both of the boys on the other.  In the case of the second dynastic series one of the parents will at times appear with one of the boys (if that parent is not on the obverse.  The combinations are great fun (except that they tend to be obscenely expensive).  Here are a few of both types.

Type I - single portraits per side
Type II - single portrait obverse, multi portrait reverse

 

Type I  - SEVERVS - PIVS AVG   //  IVLIA - AVGVSTA

SEVERVS - PIVS AVG   //  IVLIA - AVGVSTA   (201-210 for obverse)

 

 

IVLIA - AVGVSTA   //  ANTONINVS - AVGVSTVS  (199-201)

Boy's bust of Caracalla may be the obverse.  This appears to be a coin of Caracalla honoring his mother.

 

IVLIA - AVGVSTA  //  P SEPT  GETA CAES PONT (clockwise)

 

TYPE II   - products of the mint at Rome.  These lead off all the listings for the imperial family after the Wars of Succession.

SEVERVS - PIVS AVG  //  AETERNIT IMPERII
Septimius and the boys: Caracalla, left; Geta, right

 

 

IVLIA - AVGVSTA  //  AETERNIT IMPERII
Julia and the boys: Caracalla, left; Geta, right

 

 

IVLIA - AVGVSTA  //  AETERNIT IMPERII
Julia and her Augusti: Septimius, left; Caracalla, right

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lrbguy]

My posts for Geta are going to be very simple and brief.  I have tended to devote more attention to the obverses for his coins, giving attention to his changing appearance from childhood.  For a thread about reverses I have not gathered much, but I do have a single coin worthy of attention.

 

GETA   (199-202)
BMCRE  S 217  denarius of Rome 

Geta, young, draped bare head to r.
 P SEPT GETA  -  CAES PONT
Castor, wearing short tunic to hips, holding scepter in his R hand, standing facing L in front of horse also facing L, right foreleg raised.
CASTOR

 

 

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Great coins, @Al Kowsky, but if you look at the schedule on page 1 of this thread, the next two days are for poor, forgotten Geta! Caracalla begins on the 24th.

Thanks for the "heads up" 🙄. I didn't look before posting but remembered we changed every 2 days. Caracalla seemed like the logical continuing sequence since he was the older of the two brothers.

[Al Kowsky]

My only 2 Geta coins pictured below.

[Romancollector]

My one coin of Julia Domna: a sestertius with the reverse depicting the goddess Felicitas, a personification of fertility and good fortune. 

[Ryro]

Gosh, I wish I could think of a favorite Domna reverse type...

[Octavius]

 I am very lacking for Geta. I purchased this denarius only because I thought he made a cute baby. The reverse depicts him as PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS....

This next denarius was incorporated into a 19th century pill box and I have no idea what the reverse is. In as much as this thread is about reverses, I guess that makes this coin totally irrelevant!

[Qcumbor]

Are we now Caracalling ?

In honor of both Caracalla and Plautilla, and to celebrate their eternal and immortal mutual loving, here are two denarii bearing the same reverse on the occasion of their marriage

Q

[kapphnwn]

Caracalla Ae Sestertius 211 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Mars standing left holding victory and shield  with captive seated before. RIC 490a 31.31 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen

With this reverse Caracalla is alluding to his successes in the north of Britannia.

[ambr0zie]

For Caracalla my most interesting reverses are provincial. 

A flaming altar from Trajanopolis 

... and a she wolf with twins from Troas, Alexandreia 

 

Fun fact - these are the first coins I bought individually in auctions, my previous ones came from lots. 

My only imperial coins interesting reverse in my opinion - not very unique but here is one as Caesar with pontifical implements. I always liked this reverse type 

Another interesting reverse, from Pautalia - omphalos with serpent 

I have 2 Plautilla denarii - one with a common reverse (Venus with Cupid)

... and a VERY common one, with a reverse showing Plautilla and Caracalla in sweet harmony (oh, the irony)

Edited August 24, 2023 by ambr0zie

[Pellinore]

Sorry I'm late to the party, but I have little time to spare for coins nowadays. Here's some coins of Geta we didn't see before in this thread: 

The sweet young caesar with a basket of fruit... Geta caesar 198-209, AE17, Nikopolis ad Istrum, now Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria. Obv. Bust r. Rev. Basket of fruit. 17 mm, 2.7 gr. 

Thracia, Pautalia. Geta as emperor (209-212). Obv, Bust t.r. Rev. Coiling snake with expressive head t.r. 28 mm, 15.84 gr.

AE30, Geta as emperor (209-212). Pontos. Neocaesarea. Dated CY 146=AD 209/10. Draped and cuirassed bust r. [Λ CΕΠ ΓΕΤΑ]C ΚΑΙC. Rev. Tetrastyle temple with statue of a male on a pedestal in the middle and hangings at the sides. KOIN ΠON NEOKAIC MHTPO/ ET PMR. 30 mm, 13.70 gr.

 

[expat]

Only one Caracalla for me, a reverse with one meaning for him, and the same reverse for his Brother, Geta with a vastly different meaning. For Caracalla it was for the return and restoration of the water supply for Carthage, Geta´s was for the Imperial visit to Carthage and his Birthday celebrations at the Amphitheatre.

Anyway, my only Caracalla

Caracalla AR Denarius, Rome 19 mm. 2,94 g.
RIC 130a, RSC 97, BMC 280
Caracalla 196-198 AD. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / INDVLGENTIA AVGG, IN CARTH below, Dea Caelestis (Cybele) riding lion springing right over water gushing from rocks on left, holding thunderbolt & sceptre, and wearing ”City Wall” crown.
Purchased from Aeternitas Numismaticas 12th Aug. 2023.
Ex, Solidus Numismatik auction 106, Lot # 1580 11th Oct. 2022

 

[Pellinore]

As for young Caracalla, here's two, one's civilized and the other isn't. Both with reverses that are less exciting to me than temples, conversations between gods, halfgods and/ or emperors, snakes, bigae, trigae and quadrigae or just adorable baskets with fruit. 

AR denarius Caracalla 198-217 AD. Obv. Youthful bust of Caracalla right. Rev. Trophy with cuirass and shields towers over two prisoned Persians.  PART MAX PONT TR P IIII. I bought it about 1975.

AR denarius Caracalla. 198-217 AD. Obv. Bust of Caracalla right. M AV K ANT ONINOC. Rev. Lituus, cutellus, capis, simpulum, and aspergillum. “D.... AVG PII FIL”? Can this be? 17 mm, 2.7 gr. 

 

 

 

[CPK]

My only Caracalla, not in the greatest shape but it's got an interesting reverse!

[lrbguy]

As Septimius secured his accession to the imperial authority through the Wars of Succession, Antoninus/Caracalla was earmarked for the throne with him while the latter was yet a young boy.  After two years as a Caesar, in 198 AD at the age of 10 he was elevated to the rank of Augustus and shared the reign with his father, and briefly with his brother as well.  When Septimius died in 211, Caracalla, took sole possession of the imperial authority by murdering his brother while in the arms of their mother. 

• 198-209: Joint Reign of Septimius and his first son, Caracalla
• 209-211: Join Reign of Septimius and both sons, Caracalla and Geta
• 211-218: Sole Reign of Caracalla

Here will be shown a small sampler of coins for each of these eras.

For a better look, click on the pics (the color balance gets back to what I shot.)

 

Joint Reign of Septimius and Caracalla   198-209

198         at Rome  IMP CAE M AVR ANT AVG P TR P                 

MINER  VI CT RIX    Minerva with staff and Victoriola at L, shield at feet, Trophy to R

 

From the Eastern mint at Laodicea:

198         IMP C M AVR ANTON  - INVS PONT AVG       

 (Lao )    IMP ERII  FELICITAS

 

199-201      ANTONINVS  - AVGVSTVS         

( Lao)            SECVRIT  -  ORBIS

 

201-210       ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG   

Rome             ADVENT AVGG      galley with rowers  and three passengers (at bow).

 

201-210          ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG           

Rome                 PACATOR  ORBIS

 

Joint Reign of Septimius and both sons, Caracalla and Geta      209-211

210-213           ANTONINVS PIVS - AVG BRIT      

 Rome                PROFECTIO AVG   

 

 

Sole Reign of Caracalla   211-218

 

This is the point at which Caracalla introduced the double denarius (tariffed at 1.5 times the value of the silver in it)  which came to be named after him as the Antoninianus.

 

                                  ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM        

Rome                       PM TRP XVIII COS III PP

 

                                ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM         

Rome                    VENVS VICTRIX

It seemed fitting to close off with his version of the Venus Victrix reverse which is radically different in motif from that introduced on the coins of Imperial women before him.

 

Edited August 25, 2023 by lrbguy
tech note

[DonnaML]

Some Caracallas and Plautillas with reverses I like -- including the one depicting the two together, on which the image of Plautilla has always reminded me of Elsa Lanchester in Bride of Frankenstein.

Caracalla (son of Septimius Severus) AR Denarius. Obv. Laureate, youthful draped bust right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG/ Rev. Felicitas standing left holding caduceus & cornucopiae, FELICITAS AVGG. RIC IV-1 127, RSC III 64, Sear RCV II 6799, BMCRE 276. 19 mm., 3.2 g.

Caracalla AR Antoninianus, 215-217 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen half from behind, ANTONINUS PIUS AVG GERM / Rev. Venus standing left, holding scepter in left arm and Victory on right hand, resting left elbow on round shield set on helmet, VENUS -VIC-TRIX. RSC III 608(c), RIC IV-3 311(d), BMCRE 80-81, Sear RCV II 6784. 22x24 mm., 4.94 g. Ex: Stephen M. Huston Sale 153, Lot 126 (ca. 1997).

Caracalla Billon Tetradrachm, COS. IV, AD 213-217 [McAlee pp. 6, 270: probably ca. 216-217; see third fn. below], Antioch ad Orontem, Seleucis and Pieria,* Syria Province. Obv. Laureate head right, [ΑΥΤ]•Κ•Μ•Α• •ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC [CЄΒ] / Rev. Eagle with wreath in beak, head right, and wings spread, standing facing on leg and thigh of sacrificial animal,** ΔΗΜΑΡX•ЄΞ• ΥΠΑ• ΤΟ• Δ• [equivalent of TR P COS IV (fourth consulship)] around, •Δ•-• Δ • [Delta – Epsilon***] across upper fields. McAlee 681 (ill. p. 271), Prieur 224, Bellinger 19 [Alfred R. Bellinger, The Syrian Tetradrachms of Caracalla and Macrinus, American Numismatic Society (Numismatic Studies No. 3, New York, 1940)]. 13.49 g., 25 mm., 12 h. Purchased from Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Auction 96, 5 May 2022, Lot 739. [Footnotes omitted.]

Plautilla (wife of Caracalla; issued under Septimius Severus & Caracalla), AR Denarius, ca. 204 AD. Obv. PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / Rev. PIETAS AVGG, Pietas standing right holding scepter & infant. RIC IV 367, RSC III 16. 20 mm., 3.4 g. (See Note to RIC IV 362 below.)*

* The depiction of Pietas (representing Plautilla) on the reverse holding a child is believed to have been issued to celebrate the AD 204 birth of a child who died in infancy.

Plautilla (wife of Caracalla; issued under Septimius Severus & Caracalla), AR Denarius, 203-204 AD, Rome Mint.  Obv. Draped bust right, hair in horizontal waves and drawn into large bun at back, PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE / Rev. Caracalla standing left, holding volumen with left hand and clasping right hands with Plautilla standing right, PROPAGO IMPERI. Short hairline flan crack. RIC IV (Caracalla) 362, RSC III (Plautilla) 21, Sear RCV II 7073 (ill.). 18 mm., 3.30 g., 6 h. [First appearance of reverse legend PROPAGO IMPERI, celebrating the hoped-for continuation of the Severan house through the union of Caracalla and Plautilla. Cf. RIC IV 367, showing Pietas (representing Plautilla) on reverse holding child, believed to have been issued to celebrate the 204 AD birth of child who died in infancy.]   Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC), Fixed Price List Winter 2021, 4 Feb. 2021, Lot 54. 

 

Plautilla (wife of Caracalla; issued under Septimius Severus & Caracalla), AR Denarius, AD 202-205 [Sear: AD 204], Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, hair in nearly vertical waves* and drawn into coiled plait at neck, PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA / Rev. Venus Victrix standing half-left, holding apple in outstretched right hand and palm frond in left hand, resting left arm on large oval shield set on ground; to left, Cupid standing left, holding helmet in outstretched left hand, VENVS VICTRIX. RIC IV (Caracalla) 369, RSC III (Plautilla) 25, Sear RCV II 7074 (ill. p. 549), BMCRE V (Septimius Severus & Caracalla) 429 (p. 238).  19 mm., 3.65 g., 5 h. Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC) E-Auction 515, May 4, 2022, Lot 589.

*Another variety of the same type shows Plautilla's hair in horizontal waves.
 

Edited August 25, 2023 by DonnaML

[Limes]

The Circus Maximus:

After the massacre at Alexandria. Looks terrible, but a very rare issue:

I just love this reverse with Cerberus:

[Octavius]

 Collection of Caracalla reverses....

1. Antoninianus with Venus Victrix reverse...

2. denarius with Venus reverse...

3. Antoninianus with reverse of Jupiter standing holding spear and lightening bolt...

4. Denarius with Jupiter standing holding spear and lightening bolt...

5.. Antoninianus with Jupiter seated holding Victory in the palm of his hand...

6. Antoninianus with reverse depicting SOL holding globe

7.  Denarius with reverse of MONETA...

8. denarius with reverse of lion...

9. Denarius with reverse of PROFECTIO AVGVSTI , depicting Caracalla setting out on a campaign...

10. Roman Empire. Caracalla augustus, 198 – 217.
Sestertius 215, AE 20.75 g. M AVREL ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG GERM Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P XVIII IMP III COS IIII P P Caracalla in military attire, standing l., r. foot on crocodile, holding spear; to l., Isis advancing r. towards him, holding two ears of corn and sistrum. In exergue, S C. C 334. BMC 285. RIC 544.
A bold portrait and a lovely untouched enamel-like green
patina. Good very fine / very fine

11. Two sestertii with reverse of Providentia...

12. As with reverse of Luna in biga of bulls...

13. Denarius of his wife Plautilla with reverse deceptively showing the two of them "happily married"...

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Caracalla, Pamphylia, River god Megas, Octassarion.

 

Caracalla, Phrygia, Cybele, Pentassarion

Edited August 25, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[John Conduitt]

Caracalla with a more animated Victory.

Caracalla Denarius, 210-213
Rome. Silver, 3.22g. Head with laurel wreath from right; ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG BRIT. Victoria with trophy from right; VICTORIAE BRIT (Victory in Britain) (RIC IV, 231A).

[Limes]

17 hours ago, Octavius said:

10. Roman Empire. Caracalla augustus, 198 – 217.
Sestertius 215, AE 20.75 g. M AVREL ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG GERM Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P XVIII IMP III COS IIII P P Caracalla in military attire, standing l., r. foot on crocodile, holding spear; to l., Isis advancing r. towards him, holding two ears of corn and sistrum. In exergue, S C. C 334. BMC 285. RIC 544.
A bold portrait and a lovely untouched enamel-like green
patina. Good very fine / very fine

I was waiting fo this one 😁

[Al Kowsky]

There is a strange looking winged creature below the eagle, could it be an owl 🤔?

SELEUCIS & PIERIA, Emesa. Macrinus, AD 217-218. Billon Tetradrachm: 11.67 gm, 25 mm, 1 h. Obverse: Laureate bust of Macrinus. Reverse: Eagle with wreath in beak, radiate head of Samash below eagle. Prieur 917. Ex Roma 12-19-2019.