The Circus Maximus

271, Lot: 85. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 23.72 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 213. M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XVI IMP II above, COS IIII P P/S C in two lines in exergue, Circus Maximus: the front consists of an arcade of arches and a large arch on right; just behind on left, driver and quadriga right on arch, uncertain objects left and right of spina, three quadrigae driving left, spectators in gallery; in background, on left, temple, colonnade of three tiers of arches, in which is a quadriga. RIC III 500a; Banti 46; BMCRE 251; Cohen 236. Near VF, dark green patina, light overall roughness. Very rare.

Property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong.

The Circus Maximus is portrayed on this coin as seen from the nearby Forum Boarium.