Roman Silver & Bronze

Lot 3111       Roman Silver & Bronze

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au

CARACALLA, (A.D.198-217), issue struck at Rome in 216, AE As, (10.89 grams), obv. M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, bust draped and cuirassed to right, rev. around P M TR P XVIIII COS IIII P P, S C in exergue, Pluto wearing polos seated to left, right hand on knee, holding sceptre in left hand, to left cerberus, (S.-, cf.RIC 542 & 560, C.-). Attractive portrait, good very fine and extremely rare, apparently unpublished.

A most important coin. This reverse example is known with laureate head to right and legend ANTONINVS PIUS AVG GERM. This piece with variant legend (see above) and different bust is unpublished. The reverse with Pluto and Cerebus on coins is extremely rare, and for the Roman series only known on these few coins of Caracalla. Pluto was the god of the Underworld (the Greek god Hades) and Cerberus was the three headed canine guard dog of the Underworld who was also dragged from the Underworld by Hercules to see the light of day. The three heads of this monster were said to signify the power of Pluto over the three elements of water, earth and air.