© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
As - Caracalla COS LVD SAECVL FEC S C; Hercules, Bacchus, and Liber
204 year| Bronze | 11.4 g | 27 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla) (198-217) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 204 |
| Value | As = 1⁄16 Denarius |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 11.4 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#273728 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Bacchus, naked, standing right, holding cup in right hand and thyrsus in left hand, and Hercules, standing left, holding club set on ground in right hand and lion-skin on left arm.
Script: Latin
Lettering: COS LVD SAECVL FEC S C
Translation:
Consul, Ludos Saeculares Fecit. Senatus Consultum.
Consul, organiser of the Secular Games. Decree of the senate.
Comment
Mass varies: 9.71–13.08 g;Example of this type:
Trustees of the British Museum
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features three Roman gods - Hercules, Bacchus, and Liber - on its reverse side, which was a common theme in Roman coinage during the reign of Caracalla. This suggests that the coin was minted during a time when the Roman Empire was promoting the worship of these deities, and that the emperor himself was possibly associated with these gods in some way. Additionally, the fact that the coin is made of bronze and weighs 11.4 grams suggests that it was a widely circulating coin that was used in everyday transactions, making it a significant artifact of ancient Roman commerce.
