Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.96 g, 12h). Uncertain Syrian(?) mint. Struck circa AD 215.

Electronic Auction 475
Lot: 186. Estimated: $ 200

The McAlee Collection – Septimius Severus to Geta, Silver

Sold For $ 120. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.96 g, 12h). Uncertain Syrian(?) mint. Struck circa AD 215. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right / P M TR P XVIII COS III P P, Fides standing left, holding two signa. Unpublished in the standard references, but for another late eastern denarius with a FIDES MILITVM reverse, see: McAlee p. 266, fig. 24 = Aufhauser 10 (5 October 1996), lot 46; Steinberg Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica/Spink, 16 November 1994), lot 614. Porosity. VF.

From the Richard McAlee Collection, purchased from Romae Aeternae Numismatics.

McAlee hypothesizes that this coin is part of a small wartime issue of denarii, know from the two examples cited above, and related to the tetradrachm issues given by Prieur to Antioch (cf. Prieur 229-245). In any case, its distinctive eastern-style portrait and low-grade silver flan are strongly reminiscent of Caracalla’s Syrian tetradrachms, suggesting a hitherto unknown official issue.

Closing Date and Time: 26 August 2020 at 11:01:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.