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Philippopolis AE40 Moushmov 5358 of Caracalla

Caracalla AE40 Medallion of Philippoplis, Thrace. Laureate, cuirassed bust left / KOINWN QRAKWN ALEXANDRIA PUQIA EN FILIPPOPO, three naked athletes, the left and right ones are turned left, with raised right hands, the one between them is bending down, immersing his right hand with oil from jug held in left.

Lot No.2631. VF and extremely rare Pythian Games medallion.

$ 5500.

Note The detailed aegis on Caracalla's armor. This is am image of the head of Medusa as was used by Perseus to slay the great sea monster when saving Andromeda from the cliffs, and was used as an amulet of protection on the military costumes of many emperors. On very few coins is this amulet so well defined and sharp.

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.