Denarius - Caracalla (P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P; Serapis) (213) front Denarius - Caracalla (P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P; Serapis) (213) back
Denarius - Caracalla (P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P; Serapis) (213) photo
© American Numismatic Society (ANS)

Denarius - Caracalla P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P; Serapis

213 year
Silver 3.4 g 19 mm
Description
Issuer
Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD)
Emperor
Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla) (198-217)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Year
213
Value
1 Denarius
Currency
Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215)
Composition
Silver
Weight
3.4 g
Diameter
19 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-05
References
Numista
N#273315
Rarity index
97%

Reverse

Serapis, wearing polos on head, standing left, raising right hand and holding transverse sceptre in left hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering: P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P

Translation:
Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate Sexta Decima, Consul Quartum, Pater Patriae.
High priest, holder of tribunician power for the 16th time, consul for the fourth time, father of the nation.

Comment

Mass varies: 3.24–3.531 g;

Example of this type:
American Numismatic Society (ANS)

Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about this coin is that it features an image of Serapis, a deity that was worshipped in the Roman Empire during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Serapis was a syncretization of the Egyptian god Osiris and the Greek god Hades, and was often depicted with a modius, a grain measure, on his head, which symbolized his role as a god of fertility and agriculture. The inclusion of Serapis on this coin suggests that the Roman Empire was open to incorporating deities from various cultures and religions into their currency, reflecting the diverse and multicultural nature of the empire.