MYSIA, Pergamum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion (42mm, 34.17 g, 12h). Marcus Caerellius Attalos, strategos. Struck AD 214. Good Fine.

Electronic Auction 613
Lot: 539. Estimated: $ 150

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MYSIA, Pergamum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion (42mm, 34.17 g, 12h). Marcus Caerellius Attalos, strategos. Struck AD 214. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, gorgoneion on breastplate; c/m: wreath within incuse circle / Three temples: the outer temples are hexastyle and contain statues of the deified emperors Augustus and Trajan, AV and TP on their respective pediments; the central temple is tetrastyle and contains a statue of Caracalla, as Asklepios, seated left, holding serpent and scepter, AN on the pediment; each temple surmounted by a wreath. Weisser, Pergamon 1730 var. (obv. legend); RPC V.2 1113 (this coin cited). For c/m: Howgego 480. Brown surfaces, porosity, metal flaws, smoothing, details enhanced. Good Fine. Very rare.

Ex Berk BBS 225 (30 November 2023), lot 525; Classical Numismatic Auctions VI (1 March 1989), lot 234; H. Schulman 74 (26 January 1971), lot 1053; Thomas Ollive Mabbott Collection (H. Schulman, 6 June 1969), lot 1335.

Caracalla’s eastern tour of AD 214 included stops at several healing shrines, where he sought a cure for a chronic malady of an unknown nature, which his ancient biographers attributed to either hypochondria or guilt and anxiety over his murder of his brother, Geta. This impressive medallion of Pergamum commemorates one such visit to the famous temple of Asklepios in that city, extant since the second century BC. The reverse depicts three temples; the two flanking structures, shown in perspective, have been identified as temples for the deified emperors Augustus and Trajan. The raised central temple, with a figure of Asklepios shown within, is inscribed AN on the pediment, surely for Antonininus, Caracalla’s official name. The meaning of this is unclear, but it suggests the venerable temple of Asklepios has also been made into a shrine to the emperor’s own divinity.

Closing Date and Time: 15 July 2026 at 12:59:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.