Plautilla, 202-205, Denarius

Plautilla, Denarius, Silver (AR), Reign of Plautilla, 202-205 AD, Minted in Rome. Weight: 3.22g, Diameter: 18mm. Obverse: Features the draped bust of Plautilla facing right, inscribed with "PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA." Reverse: Depicts Pietas standing front, head left, raising both hands, with the inscription "PIETAS AVGG." The coin strike is centered and well-defined with discernible details on both sides, enjoyably capturing the era’s artistic style. References include RIC IV Caracalla 367 (denarius).

Plautilla, the wife of Caracalla and daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Plautianus, was married into the imperial family as a political alliance. Her marriage to Caracalla was notably tumultuous, marked by political intrigue and eventual exile following her father’s downfall. Coins minted during her brief period as Augusta offer insights into the dynamics of power and familial alliances within the Severan dynasty. Her iconography, portraying traditional Roman virtues like ‘Pietas,’ underscores the emphasis on imperial devotion and stability, even amidst the personal and political challenges of her time.