|
Bronze Denarius - Æ 15 mm - 4 grams - Die axis 06:00 - RIC 11 - Struck AD AD 195-198.
|
|
|
1. |
[M AVR ANTON] CANS PONT[IF] (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar Pontifex - M.A.A. Caesar, State
Priest) . Toga’d boy with ‘beatle hair’ facing right. |
|
|
2. |
MARTI V[LTORI] (Marti Ultori - Mars the Avenger).
Helmeted God Mars walking towards the right. Lower body turned towards us, upper body turned off from us. In his left arm a spear, in his right arm a war trophy. |
|
PONTIF in this case refers to his membership of the college of pontifices, which was headed at
this time by Septimius Severus who was Pontifex Maximus. Thus Caracalla at this time was just
a Pontifex, priest, not the Pontifex Maximus (highest priest). Struck AD during Caracalla's
caesariat.
By this time Mars was seen as ancestor of the Romans and founding father of the Urbs
(= Rome).
Obv. : Good but worn - Rev. : Good but worn.
|
|
