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coin
Object Type
coin
Museum number
BNK,R.703
Denomination
radiate
Description
Silver coin.
(whole)
Bust of Caracalla, radiate, draped and cuirassed, right, seen from front.
(obverse)
Serapis, seated left, extending right hand and holding vertical sceptre in left hand; at feet, Cerberus seated left.
(reverse)
State
Associated with:
Roman Empire
Ancient Greece and Rome: Roman Empire
Authority
Ruler:
Caracalla
Cultures/periods
Roman Imperial
Production date
215
Production place
Minted in:
Rome (city)
Materials
silver
Dimensions
Die-axis:
12 o'clock
Weight:
5.028 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments
The reverse previously understood as Pluto is now recognised as Serapis who is also associated with the underworld guardian Cerberus (see Rowan 2012).
Bibliographic references
RE5 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol.V: Pertinax to Elagabalus
(123, p.454)
(corr = Serapis)
RIC4 / The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 4: Pertinax - Uranius Antonius
(261d, p.249)
(type (corr = Serapis))
Rowan 2012 / Under Divine Auspices, Divine Ideology and the Visualisation of Imperial Power in the Severan Period
(pp.138-140)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
emperor/empress
classical deity
classical mythological figure/creature
Associated names
Named in inscription & portrayed:
Caracalla
Representation of:
Serapis
Representation of:
Cerberus
Acquisition name
Donated by:
Bank of England
Acquisition date
1877
Acquisition notes
The Bank of England loaned their Collection to the British Museum in 1865 wishing to make it accessible to the general public. This remained as a separate Collection until 1877 when the Bank Directors decided it would be more useful to the museum and the public if incorporated into the national collection. The Bank of England collection was therefore presented to the British Museum in 1877, any duplicates being sold to create a coins and medals purchase fund.
Department
Coins and Medals
Registration number
BNK,R.703
C&M catalogue number
RE5
(454)
(123)