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Philippopolis AE32 Moushmov 5365 of Caracalla

Caracalla AE32 of Philippopolis, Thrace. AVT K M AVP CEVH ANTWNEINOC, laureate bust right seen from behind / KOINWN QRAKWN ALEXANDRIA FILIPPOPO PUQI-A, Hercules standing facing, leaning on club set on rock to left, holding lionskin and apple.

Lot No.2637. VF and a rare Pythian Games type.

$ 425.

The Pythian Games were held every four years at Delphi, in August of the third year between the Olympic games. They were dedicated to the god Apollo, and took their name from Pythia, the priestess at the Oracle at Delphi. The events included both musical and athletic competitions.

Caracalla (ruled 188-217 AD) was the nickname of the Roman emperor who ruled as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Originally named Bassianus, he was born in Gaul, and was nicknamed Caracalla because he introduced into Roman fashion a long cloak or tunic from Gaul called the caracalla. When his father, Septimius Severus, died in 211, Caracalla became joint emperor with his younger brother, Publius Septimius Geta. In 212 Caracalla became sole emperor after murdering Geta in their mother's arms, and arranging the massacre of thousands of Geta's followers.

Caracalla's reign was marked by cruelty, extravagance, and treachery, but he followed his father's advice to treat the soldiers well, and he was well loved by the army. He increased their pay and introduced the double denarius, also known as the Antoninianus in his honor, presumeably to facilitate this military pay raise.

On his birthday, April 4th, 217 AD, while campaigning against the Parthians, as he stopped to empty his bladder on the road to Carrhae, he fell victim to a plot engineered by Macrinus, who was Praetorian Prefect. He was assassinated by one Julius Martialis, who bore a grudge against Caracalla for having passed him over for promotion to centurion, and Macrinus immediate seized power.