Caracalla & Septimius Severus Denarius. 

Obv: ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right 
Rev: AETERNIT IMPERI, confronted laureate & cuirassed busts of 
 Septimius Severus & Caracalla, seen from front.

BMC 158 var, Cohen 2 var.

"An apparently unpublished variant of this rare coin. On the published
coins, the busts of Severus and Caracalla on the reverse are seen from
behind, either draped and cuirassed or draped only.  On this coin, the 
busts are seen from the front, cuirassed only, with a dot indicating a Medusa
head on each cuirass, a "fancier" bust type. According to C. Clay's 
unpublished die stufy of the Severan dynasic denarii, cuirassed, frontal 
busts of Septimius and Caracalla occur on the one reverse die only, which 
is actually known on a coin in Paris with an ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS obverse as on 
this coin.  This is therefore the second known of this rare variant.  In
addition, the same reverse die was coupled with obverses of Septimius as SEVERVS PIVS AVG (NAC 1, 1989, 901), Julia Domna (BMC pl 27.2) and Geta (BMC pl 32.7).
Great art, great condition on one of the best dynastic Severan coins we have 
ever handled. Near Mint State. Our Retail Price: $2750"

Offer of $1900 accepted.

Contributed by Colin, October, 2004.