The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC Ch MS Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

At the age of 10, Caracalla (188-217 AD) was proclaimed Augustus in 198 AD, and ruled jointly with his father, Septimus Severus, who died twelve years later. Carcalla then had to share the throne with his younger brother Geta, and both brothers bitterly resented the situation. After ten months of political strife and plotting, a final peace offering was conducted — final because Caracalla used the opportunity to have his brother murdered, one of many brutal massacres and persecutions he conducted throughout the empire. Caracalla used a similar ploy playing along with a Parthian marriage and peace proposal, only to launch blistering attacks as their guard was down. Under his reign, Roman currency devalued; the denarius silver content decreased (as in this coin), and a new "double denarius" was issued (but without nearly double the silver). The Edict of Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to all freemen throughout the Empire, in order to raise tax revenue. He was fond of displaying physical strength and lavishly bestowing monetary gifts, particularly to gain his troop's favor, and perhaps to divert attention away from his ruthlessness. Fittingly, the coin’s reverse proclaims: "This is my ninth gift of money to the people of Rome." An officer of his own personal bodyguard assassinated Emperor Caracalla with his pants down, literally: he was relieving himself. Coin Details: Roman Empire, Caracalla, 214 AD, Rome Mint, AR Denarius (2.47 g), NGC Grade: Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Laureate head right, ANTONINVS PIVS LIBERAL AVG VIIII, Reference: RIC IVi, 302, page 258, Cohen 139, SEAR RCV II (2002), #6814, page 520.

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