Triumph Against the Persians

Sale: CNG 79, Lot: 602. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2008.  Sold For $5700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Nicaea. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion - 45mm (60.44 g, 6h). Struck AD 215-217. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Caracalla, radiate and in military uniform, standing in quadriga facing, head left, raising hand and holding globus. LS -; SNG München -; BMC 16 (only rev. illustrated; same die). VF, green patina with earthen overtones. Very rare.

The reverse of this medallion anticipates the victory of Caracalla in his upcoming campaign against the Persians. What is most striking about this image, however, is that while ostensibly depicting Caracalla, the iconography reminds the viewer of Sol, the god of the sun. While the general type is known on Roman imperial issues as early as Hadrian, this particular type becomes more well-known later on issues of emperors of the later-third and early fourth centuries.