Curator

  • Art Institute Chicago
  • Harvard art museum
  • My Exhibition
A work made of gold.

Aureus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Caracalla

204 (January-April), issued by Septimius Severus

Roman, minted in Rome

Rome

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the profile head of Emperor Caracalla facing right, laureate, and wearing a cuirass(body armor) and paludamentum (military cloak). The back (reverse) shows the deity Victory, partly draped, advancing left, and holding a wreath and palm.

This coin showing the 16 year old prince was issued by his father, Emperor Septimius Severus. The inscription details the honor (Pontifex - "priest") and powers (Tribunitian) that the emperor had granted to his son six years earlier. The reverse image shows a winged Victory offering a wreath and palm frond to celebrate the emperor's "Great Parthian Victory", spelled out in the inscription.

Gold

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium