Carcalla was born Lucius Septimius Bassianus in A.D. 188. When his father, Septimius Severus, became emperor that changed to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus for a link to the fondly remembered Antonine Dynasty. He was later made joint emperor but within a year of Septimius Severus’ death in A.D. 211, Caracalla ensured he had no rivals by killing his brother, Geta, and Geta’s 20,000 supporters. He was a soldier, so left his mother, Julia Domna, to run the empire while he campaigned, gaining the name Carcalla from a Gallic cloak & hood he adopted while on the Rhine. He was also cruel & unstable, massacring thousands in Alexandria (Egypt) over a satirical play. He was eventually killed by a disaffected soldier he had refused promotion, leaving the empire in financial ruin from his campaigns and increases to soldiers pay. Caracalla’s coins have his most enduring legacy on them, his portrait, one of the most impressive on all Roman coins. It breaks from previous philosopher-emperors; his curly hair close-cropped like a soldier and his life-like bust becoming more imposing as he ages. We have a small group of his silver Denarii in Good Very Fine showing his adult bust on the obverse with multiple reverse types. We think Roman coins are miniature pieces of art, this is a great example!
