© Münzkabinett - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0)
© Münzkabinett - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Aureus - Caracalla COS LVDOS SAECVL FEC; Hercules, Bacchus, and Liber
| Gold | 7.19 g | 20 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla) (198-217) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 202-204 |
| Value | 1 Aureus = 25 Denarii |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 7.19 g |
| Diameter | 20 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#273126 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Bacchus (Liber), wreathed, naked, on left, standing right, emptying oenochoe in right hand over panther, and holding thyrsus in left hand, and Hercules, naked, on right, standing left, holding club set on ground in right hand and lion-skin over left arm.
Script: Latin
Lettering: COS LVDOS SAECVL FEC
Unabridged legend: Consul, Ludos Saeculares Fecit
Translation: Consul, organiser of the Secular Games
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Aureus - Caracalla coin is that it features an image of the Roman god Bacchus on one side, which is unusual for a Roman coin. Bacchus was not a commonly depicted deity on Roman coins, and his appearance on this coin may indicate that Caracalla, the emperor who issued it, had a personal interest in the god of wine and revelry. This coin could provide insight into the cultural and religious practices of the Roman Empire during Caracalla's reign.
