Lot 4806

Description

Caracalla, (A.D. 198-217), gold aureus, issued 213, Rome mint, (7.11 g), obv. laureate head to right of Caracalla, around ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, rev. Securitas enthroned right, resting head on right hand, holding scepter in left, altar at feet, around SECVRITATI PERPETVAE, (S.6748, RIC 229a, BMCRE 101, Calico 2813, C. 575). Finely centered on generous flan, a splendid mature portrait in the finest style of the period, with mint bloom, good extremely fine and very rare.

Securitas is sitting here in a relaxed, almost provocatively casual attitude on her throne, with her hand placed in a peace gesture to the head. The message being 'There is no danger', and this security is of course the relevance of the reverse that Caracalla provides.