Victory in Britain

Triton XVIII, Lot: 1158. Estimate $1500. Sold for $2250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 29.07 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 210. M AVREL ANTONI NVS PIVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery / VICTORIAE BRITTANNICAE, S C in exergue, Victory, winged and draped, standing right, left foot on helmet, left knee bent, resting right hand on trophy, consisting of helmet, cuirass, spears, shields, and greaves; on right, Britannia, towered and draped, standing facing; to her left, captive seated left, hands tied behind back. RIC IV 464; Banti 132; SCBC 659; BMCRE 819-20 (Septimius and Caracalla). Good VF, dark green-brown patina, some lighter green and red.

From the RAM Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 73 (13 September 2006), lot 949.

Beginning in AD 208, Septimius waged a military campaign against the Caledonians in northern Britain with his sons Caracalla and Geta. Due to his father's illness, Caracalla took the lead in managing military operations throughout most of the campaign, while Geta took on administrative duties at the campaign base camp at Eburacum (modern day York). By AD 210, coins were struck in the names of all three family members celebrating their British successes. In February of AD 211, Septimius died. Soon afterward, Caracalla ended the fighting by negotiating a peace with the Caledonians. This interesting sestertius refers to the close of the British campaign, using imagery and language that suggest a decisive victory.