# Aureus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Caracalla

- By: Ancient Roman
- Date: 204 (January-April), issued by Septimius Severus
- Medium: Gold
- Classification: Coin
- Dimensions: Diam.: 2.1 cm (7/8 in.)
- Culture: Rome
- Credit line: Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5667)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/1dae305c-6c02-14bf-1998-24bee131b9ae/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the profile head of Emperor Caracalla facing right, laureate, and wearing a cuirass(body armor) and paludamentum (military cloak). The back (reverse) shows the deity Victory, partly draped, advancing left, and holding a wreath and palm.

This coin showing the 16 year old prince was issued by his father, Emperor Septimius Severus. The inscription details the honor (Pontifex - "priest") and powers (Tribunitian) that the emperor had granted to his son six years earlier. The reverse image shows a winged Victory offering a wreath and palm frond to celebrate the emperor's "Great Parthian Victory", spelled out in the inscription.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0