The Ant Man

After the success of my first topic. I figured that I want to make an in depth look of each individual coin in my collection. Here is the first of the ants, Caracalla. Antoninianus Rome Mint, 216 CE Obverse legend: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM Obverse design: Bust of Caracalla, radiate, draped, right facing. Reverse legend: P M TR P XVIIII COS IIII P P Reverse design: Separis, wearing polos on head, standing, head left, raising right hand, holding tranverse sceptre in left hand. RIC IV Caracalla 280D. 23mm, 5.34 grams Caracalla instituted the new denomiation in 215 CE in an attempt to increase revenue to pay his expenses. There are no records of what this new denomiation was named during the Roman Empire, hence Caracalla's official name Antoninus was used to name this coin. The radiate crown was to indicate the new coin was worth the face value of two denarii similar to the dupondius being worth two ases with the emperor wearing radiate crown. However, people quickly found out that these coins only has the silver of around 1.5 denarii while having a face value of 2. This reform caused inflation & economic chaos in the Empire as people quickly raised prices to account for the missing silver and hoarded denarii away. While this coin was supposed to be a temporary measure. It soon became a permanent feature and as time went on, destroyed the Augustus coinage standard by replacing all other denominations with its continuous debasements and in turn, the Roman economy. This example is part of my collection. XRF analysis showed this coin to be 50% silver, roughly on par with the denarii of that time period. The obverse legend's full description is Antoninus Pius Augustus Germanicus. He adopted the title Germanicus after the Alamannic War in Raetia. The reverse shows Serapis, god of healing, which Caracalla has an interesting story with the Graeco-Egyptian god. During his co-reign with his father Septimeus Severus, the Separeum in Alexandria was renovated when both were present. When Caracalla assassinated Geta in 211 CE, he dedicated the weapon to Serapis. After Caracalla's ancesion as sole emperor in 212 CE, the Rome Mint started to strike coins bearing Serapis. He later also dedicated a temple at the Quirinal Hill, indicating the central role Serapis played during his reign. The reverse legend full desciption goes as Pointefex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestas 19th year, Counsel for the 4th time, Pater Patriae. I was able to date the coin because he became a tribute in the year 197 CE. This coin is in EF condition with wear at the highest points. I assume this coin was quickly hoarded away due to the condition it is in. Well struck with a well centred flan and most details remaining. A great survivor of the first example of the denomiation that would eventually bring the end of the Augustus coinage standard and would eventually end with the Reforms of Diocletian.

Leave it. My Claudius Gothicus has similar patina and I love it.

Something not quite an antoninianus but still very interesting. Double Antoninianus Tacitus Antioch Mint, 275-276 CE Obverse legend: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG Reverse legend: CLEMENTIA TEMP Reverse design: Tacitus, standing right, holding sceptre and receiving globe from Jupiter, standing left, holding sceptre. This is a failed monetary reform attempt of issuing a double antoninianus similar to how the antoninianus was supposed to be a double denarius. The difference is the size and weight were the same as a normal antoninianus but the silver content is doubled to 10% hence the lettering "XI" to indicate 10 parts base to 1 parts silver. This attempted failed because of how similar they are to antoninianus. Interestingly tho, Carus also apparently made double antoninianus, but there are extremely rare and as far as I am aware, only two in existence.

Thank you! This is one of the topics I loved the most at CoinTalk.

Here are some more antoninianus. Gordian III Antioch mint: 242-244 CE RIC IV Gordian III 216E Obverse legend: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Reverse legend: SAECVLI FELICITAS Herennius Etrucus 249-250 CE, Rome Mint RIC IV(III) 147C I swear whoever made the dies of Herennius Etrucus just saw old dies of Gordian III and was like "great idea let's use them".

Well he would have certainly fooled me for sure.

That is a really nice Pupienus

Blimey, those are some nice Aemilian, one with the same reverse too.

Your Valerian and Gallienus are exceptional.

Here are two xceptional examples of emperors that usually are known for making bad quality coins. Gallienus Rome Mint, 257-258 CE Obverse legend: IMP GALLIENVS AVG Reverse legend: SALVS AVGG Reverse diety: Salus 22mm, 4.42 grams RIC V Gallienus 397C For an emperor who later had to debase his coinage into oblivion, this is a exceptional early example of his earlier coins. While the reverse design is weakly struck. His obverse is well made with great detail. Claudius II Gothicus Antioch Mint: 268-270 CE Obverse legend: IMP C CLAVDUVS AVG Reverse legend: IVNO REGINA Reverse diety: Juno RIC V Claudius II 212 21mm 3.03 grams Claudius Gothicus minted some extremely low quality coins, but this example from the Antioch mint is well made and the desert patina enhanced the details. There are still traces of silvering left.

Also to whoever originally posted the Diocletian secret message. I could't find the message anymore.

The low weight of antoninianus is definitely the biggest problem at the start of the denomination. The Trajan Decius and Trebonianus Gallus ants the reason I speculated that they were overstruck denarii from the Severans is because their low weight but exceptionally high purity.

That is so interesting. Thank you for telling me this.

Here is an interesting Antoninianus. Trajan Decius. Rome Mint, 249-251 CE Obverse legend: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Reverse legend: GENIVS EXERC ILLVRICIANI Trebonianus Gallus Mediolanum Mint, 251-253 CE Obverse legend: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Reverse legend: PAX AFTERNA 22mm, 3.22 grams. What is interesting about these two coins that they share in common is that they are underweight compared to antoninianus of that time period (3.47 & 3.22 grams instead of 3.7-4 grams). However, I did ask a shop to do a XRF test and their silver purity was at a surprising 50%. I did some further research and apparently during that time some antoninianus were minted via striking over old Severan era denarii in order to save time and money. But stopped due to the silver value over time going above the face value.