Caracalla. 40-as

Caracalla; 198-217 AD, Rome, 211 AD, As, 9.17g. Cf. BM-267 (correct titles of Caracalla on rev.). Obv: ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG BRIT Bust laureate r., with fold of cloak on front shoulder. Rx: VICT BRIT P M TR P XIX COS III P P around, S - C across lower field, Victory standing r., placing l. foot on helmet, holding and about to inscribe a shield set on palm tree. Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection; ex Sotheby's, 21 April 1999, Stack Coll., lot 155. By engraver's error, at least two VICT BRIT middle-bronze reverse dies meant for Caracalla in 211 AD were instead inscribed with the contemporaneous titles of his father Septimius Severus: P M TR P XIX COS III P P. This is a rare and surprising mistake, known to Curtis Clay from only four asses of Caracalla, which come from a single obverse die and two reverse dies.. aEF