Caracalla

M. Aurelius Antoninus

Dynasty: Severans

Caracalla was the son of the Emperor Septimius Severus. His real name was Marcus Antoninius (his father having adopted him into the Antonine dynasty) but he was given the name Caracalla because of the short Gallic cloak he frequently wore (Dio 29.3.3). Severus' plans for succession included Caracalla and his younger brother Geta to reign jointly, despite their mutual loathing for each other. The joint rule did not long outlive Severus (who died in AD 211) because Caracalla murdered his brother in AD 212, some say in their mother's own arms (Dio 78.2). Still extant today in Rome are the splendid Baths of Carcalla began in AD 211 by this emperor (HA, ‘Carcalla’ 9.1). Carcalla issued an edict in AD 212 that made all free men within the Roman Empire roman citizens, known as the ‘Constitutio Antoniniana’ (though Dio says this was to increase his tax base, Dio 78.9.5-6). Carcalla also issued a new denomination, a double denarius (known to modern collectors as the Antoninianus) although it only had a little over 1.5 times the silver. Towards the end of his reign, Caracalla wished to join the Roman and Parthian empires together and requested the daughter of Artabanus IV (the Parthian King) in marriage (Dio 79.1.1; Herodian 4.10). When this offer was politely avoided, Caracalla marched to invade Parthia. Initially he proved quite successful, but he was murdered on the connivance of his Praetorian Prefect Macrinus. Macrinus secured the help of a centurion Martialis, whose brother had been executed by the emperor. Whilst in the East Carcalla went to a visit a shrine of the Moon near Carrhae with a small retinue. En route, according to Herodian, he suffered a stomach upset and went off to relieve himself – “everyone turned their faces away and walked off as far as they could out of respect for the emperor’s dignity and his modesty while in the act. Martialis was watching … [and] ran toward him … stood over Antoninus [Caracalla] while he was pulling down his clothes from his waist and stabbed him.” (Herodian 4.13.4-5)

Obverse Legends on coins depicting Caracalla

For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.

• ANT PIVS AVG PON TRP VI
• ANTON P AVG PON TRP V
• ANTON P AVG PON TRP V COS
• ANTON P AVG PON TRP VI COS
• ANTON P AVG PON TRP VII
• ANTON P AVG PONT TRP VII
• ANTON P AVG TRP V COS
• ANTON P AVG TRP VI COS
• ANTONIN PIVS AVG PON TRP V
• ANTONIN PIVS AVG PONT TRP V
• ANTONINVS AVG GERM
• ANTONINVS AVG PON TRP IIII
• ANTONINVS AVG PON TRP V
• ANTONINVS AVG PONT TRP III
• ANTONINVS AVG PONT TRP IIII
• ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS
• ANTONINVS P AVG PONT TRP V COS
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PON TRP
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PONT TRP IIII
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PONT TRP VI
• ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PONT TRP VII
• ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG
• ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG
• ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG
• DIVO ANTONINO MAGNO
• IMP C M AVR ANTON AVG P TRP
• IMP C M AVR ANTONINVS AVG
• IMP C M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
• IMP C M AVR ANTONINVS PONT AVG
• IMP CAE M AVR ANT AVG P TRP
• IMP CAES ANTONINVS
• IMP CAES M AVR ANT AVG P TRP
• IMP CAES M AVR ANTON AVG
• IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG
• IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS PONT AVG
• IMP M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PM TRP XIII
• M ANTONINVS AVG
• M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF
• M AVR ANTONINVS CAES
• M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
• M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
• M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
• M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM MAX
• M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG
• M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG
• M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG BRIT
• M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
• M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
• M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
• M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM MAX
• M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG
• M AVRELIVS ANTON AVG
• SEVERI AVG PII FIL

Coins of Caracalla currently available

	Caracalla Silver denarius issued AD 201 Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped bust right Rev: PART MAX PONT TRP IIII, Two captives, seated back to back, mourning, left and right of central trophy Good Very Fine   |   AUD $170.00
	Caracalla Silver antoninianus issued AD 216 Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Radiate, draped bust facing right Rev: PM TRP VIIII COS IIII PP, Sol stg, one hand raised, other holding globe Very Fine   |   AUD $210.00
	Caracalla Silver denarius issued AD 216 Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate head right Rev: PM TRP XVIIII COS IIII PP, Serapis, wearing polos on head, standing front, head left, raising right hand and holding transverse sceptre in left Nearly Extremely Fine   |   AUD $220.00
	Caracalla Silver denarius issued AD 216 Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate head right Rev: PM TRP XVIIII COS IIII PP, Jupiter, naked, standing front, head left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre Very Fine-Extremely Fine   |   AUD $200.00
	Caracalla and Hadrianopolis, Thrace, Hadrianopolis Bronze AE27 issued c. AD 210-217 Obv: AYT K M AYΡ CEY ANTΩNEINOC, Laureate, draped bust facing right Rev: AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Coiled serpent with radiate head (Agathademon) right Very Fine   |   AUD $220.00