© American Numismatic Society (ANS)
© American Numismatic Society (ANS)
Antoninianus - Caracalla VENVS VICTRIX; Venus and Victory
| Silver | 5 g | 23.5 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla) (198-217) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 213-217 |
| Value | 1 Antoninianus |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 23.5 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#273539 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Venus, draped, standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and spear in left hand, leaning on shield set on helmet.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VENVS VICTRIX
Translation:
Venus Victrix.
Venus Victorious.
Comment
Mass varies: 4.53–5.43 g;Diameter varies: 22.5–25 mm;
Example of this type:
American Numismatic Society (ANS)
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus - Caracalla coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Caracalla, who ruled the Roman Empire from 211 to 217 AD. The coin's design features Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, on the obverse (front side), and Victory on the reverse (back side). This coin was significant because it was the first time that Venus had been featured on a Roman coin, and it marked a shift in the empire's ideology towards a more pagan and hedonistic culture. Additionally, the coin's silver content was reduced during Caracalla's reign, which led to inflation and economic instability in the empire.
