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At the age of 10, Lucius Septimius Bassianus, better known to history as Caracalla (188-217 AD), was proclaimed Augustus, and ruled jointly with his father, Septimus Severus, who died twelve years later. Carcalla was subsequently forced to share Rome's throne with his younger brother Geta. The two brothers grew up as fierce rivals, which did not bode well for their shared rule. 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 to deceive the Parthians; he played along with a marriage and peace proposal, only to launch blistering attacks as their guard was down.
Under Caracalla’s reign, Roman currency devalued; the denarius silver content decreased (as in this coin), and a new "double denarius" was issued (albeit without double the value in silver content). This currency debasement, coupled with aggressive military pay raises, required increased revenues. To this end, in 212 AD, the Edict of Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to all free men and women throughout the Empire, not only elevating their legal status, but also (and more importantly) requiring them to pay taxes.
In 213 AD, Caracalla campaigned along the German frontier against the Alamanni. He achieved some success, although final peace was bought at the cost of hefty bribes. For these efforts, Caracalla earned the title of Germanicus Maximus, as credited on his subsequent imperial coinage. This denarius, struck in 215 AD Rome, serves as a gem mint-state example; its obverse inscription reads ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM. The obverse portrait is characteristic of coinage struck in the latter years of Caracalla’s reign as sole Augusutus. His stern, bearded physiognomy suggests descent into depravity (for comparison, consider the portrayal of young Bassianus on the preceeding denarius within this collection). Perhaps seeking physical and mental wellbeing, Caracalla took the opportunity while in Germania to visit the shrine of Grannus, the local Celtic deity associated with healing and hot springs. Grannus was also identified with the Greco-Roman god Apollo. Interestingly, Apollo appears on the verso of this denarius, holding a laurel branch and a lyre, perhaps an allusion to the deity’s healing aspect. In any case, the gods reportedly rejected Caracalla’s offerings, deeming it too late to turn the Emperor from the dark side.
Potential for redemption aside, Caracalla met an evil end. In 217 AD, an officer of his own personal bodyguard assassinated the Emperor with his pants down, literally - he was relieving himself.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla, 215 AD, Rome Mint, AR Denarius (3.32 g), NGC Grade: Gem MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate head right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Reverse: Apollo, naked but for cloak, standing left holding branch and lyre on altar, P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Reference: Cohen 282; BMC 107; RIC IVi 254; SEAR RCV II (2002), #6835, page 522.