© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
Aureus - Caracalla P M TR P XVII COS IIII P P; Vesta
214 year| Gold | 7.2 g | 20 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla) (198-217) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 214 |
| Value | 1 Aureus = 25 Denarii |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 7.2 g |
| Diameter | 20 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#273376 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Caracalla, veiled, togate, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over altar in front of the round temple of Vesta; to right, two men, one with peaked cap, and child; to left, three Vestals and child.
Script: Latin
Lettering: P M TR P XVII COS IIII P P
Unabridged legend: Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate Septima Decima, Consul Quartum, Pater Patriae
Translation: High priest, holder of tribunician power for the 17th time, consul for the fourth time, father of the nation
Comment
Mass varies: 6.98–7.51 g;Example of this type:
Trustees of the British Museum
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Aureus - Caracalla coin is that it features the image of the Roman goddess Vesta on the reverse side, which was a rare occurrence in Roman coinage. Vesta was the goddess of the hearth, home, and family, and her appearance on the coin may have been a nod to the importance of domestic life and family values in Roman culture. Additionally, the coin's gold content and intricate design make it a valuable and highly sought-after collector's item among numismatists today.
