Roma, 8.9.2012
Egregio
Lettore,
riporto di
seguito gli elementi che mi è stato possibile
raccogliere sulla moneta di figura:
Sesterzio1, Zecca di Roma, 213 d. C.2, RIC
IV/I 500b (pag. 295), BMC V
253 (pag. 478), Cohen
IV 237 (pag. 168), indice di rarità
"R3".
Descrizione sommaria:
D. M AVREL
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRITAN3. Caracalla, busto
laureato e corazzato a destra.
R. P M TR P XVI IMP
II4.
COS IIII/S C
in esergo. Circo Massimo; la parte frontale formata
da undici archi e da un grande arco sulla destra;
dietro, a sinistra, grande arco sormontato da una
quadriga frontale con auriga; a sinistra e a destra
della spina mete e statue; sulla destra tre
quadrighe in corsa a sinistra, spettatori in
galleria; sullo sfondo a sinistra un tempio,
affiancato da un colonnato articolato su tre file di
archi e da una quadriga.
La ricerca nel web di sesterzi della tipologia di
figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Sestertius-Caracalla-Circus_Maximus-RIC_0500a.jpg
Description: Caracalla. 198-217 AD. Æ Sestertius
(23.02 gm, 1h). Struck 213 AD. M AVREL
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate, draped, and
cuirassed young bust right, seen from behind P M
TR P XVI IMP II COS IIII P P/S C in exergue,
aerial view of chariot race in the Circus Maximus:
spina with obelisk of Augustus flanked by metae
and statues; arena surrounded by colonnaded
arcade; triumphal arch surmounted by quadriga and
carceres at either end. RIC IV 500a; Banti 46;
BMCRE 251; Cohen 236. Coin from CNG coins.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=7422
Source Stack's Auction The Golden Horn Collection
(12.01.2009) Lot 2325 ( « | » )
Price 9500 USD Description Caracalla, 198-217 A.D.
Sestertius, 213 A.D. Rome. Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust r.; M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
BRIT. Rv. View of the Circus Maximus showing
central obelisk, spina, chariots and other
figures; PM TRP XVI IMP II, COS IIII PP SC in ex.
Originally just a barrier for the track, the spina
was used as a site to place statues of various
gods. RIC 500a [busto corazzato RIC 500b], Cohen
236. Marvelous reddish chestnut-brown. Very minor
smoothing and miniscule spot of verdigris. Bold,
crisp and eminently pleasing types. Near Extremely
Fine and Choice. (15,000-17,500) The reverse here
infers Caracalla's commitment to the well-being
and entertainment of the people - for the Circus
was the most popular and tried and true diversion
for the masses that an emperor could give. Set on
a flat plain between the Palatine and Avertine
hills, the Circus Maximus had been home to horse
races since the time of the Etruscan king
Tarquinius Priscus. And in fact the first Roman
games, the Ludi Romani were held there. In ca. 50
B.C. Julius Caesar greatly expanded the site to
accommodate some 270,000 or more spectators. By
the time of Augustus, the Circus Maximus - along
with the theater and the Colisseum - was also a
forum where the populace could make their opinions
known. To more easily view the races, Domitian
connected his new Palatine palace with the Circus,
while to add more dignity, Trajan installed marble
seating replacing much of the wood seating. By the
Second Century A.D., the Circus - the circus in
Juvenal's "bread and circuses" -- was used for
athletic competitions, beast hunts and other
"crowd pleasers" in addition to chariot racing.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=49855
Source Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel Auction 93
(16.12.2003) Lot 218 ( « | » )
Price 5000 CHF (~3970 USD) Description KAISERZEIT
CARACALLA, 198-217. No.: 218 Schätzpreis/Estimate:
CHF 3500.- d=33 mm Sesterz, 213. M AVREL ANTONINVS
- PIVS AVG BRIT Drap., gep. Büste mit L. n. r.,
vom Rücken gesehen. Rv. P M TR P XVI IMP II / COS
IIII P P / SC Der Circus Maximus während eines
Wagenrennen in perspektivischer Vogelschau: im
Vordergrund eine Arkadenhalle mit zwölf Bögen, r.
ein Eingangstor, l. ein zweites, darauf eine
Quadriga, die rückwärtige und die seitliche
Begrenzung als Kolonnaden mit je einem Tempel; im
Innern der grosse Obelisk von Augustus zwischen
zwei kleineren Obelisken, dazwischen die Spina;
nahe der r. Kolonnade drei Quadrigen. 21,06 g. BMC
477, 251. RIC 295, 500a. C. 236. Hill, Severi 33,
1372. Sehr selten. Dunkle, olivgrüne Patina.
Schrötlingsriss. Sehr schön Provenienz: Erworben
von Fr. Thilo-Schmitt, Zürich für 75.- Franken. Es
dauerte Jahrhunderte, bis der Circus Maximus, die
grösste Anlage für öffentliche Darbietungen, die
je in Rom gebaut werden sollte, fertig war.
250.000 Besucher fanden laut Plinius in der
Kaiserzeit hier Platz. Angelegt haben soll ihn
schon Tarquinius Priscus, der erste König von Rom,
obwohl der Sage nach schon viel früher hier
Wagenrennen stattfanden. Hier im Circus ist die
Sage vom Raub der Sabinerinnen zu lokalisieren,
die gekommen waren, um eines der Wagenrennen
mitzuerleben. 329 v. Chr. wurden die Verschläge
gebaut, in denen die Pferde auf den Start zu
warten hatten, 174 v. Chr. stellte man die
berühmten sieben Eier auf, mit deren Hilfe man die
Runden beim Wettrennen zählte. Agrippa fügte im
Jahr 33 v. Chr. noch sieben Delphine aus Bronze
hinzu, die zum selben Zweck umgekippt werden
konnten. Im Jahr 10 v. Chr. liess Augustus hier
einen 23 Meter hohen Obelisk aufstellen, der im
Jahr 1587 auf die Piazza del Popolo versetzt
wurde, wo man ihn heute noch besichtigen kann. Der
Circus Maximus diente vor allem für Wagenrennen,
von denen die wichtigsten während der Ludi Romani
vom 4. bis zum 18. September stattfanden.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=59501
Source Freeman & Sear Auction Mail Bid Sale 15
(27.06.2008) Lot 384 ( « | » )
Description ROMAN EMPIRE. Caracalla (AD 211–217).
Orichalcum sestertius (21.06 gm). Rome, 213. M
AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate, draped,
and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right / P M TR P
XVI IMP II COS III P P, Circus Maximus, arcade
with 12 arches in foreground, large monumental
arch at either end, obelisk of Augustus on low
wall (spina) in infield behind, on either side
turning-posts (metae) composed of 3 large gilded
bronze cones grouped on a high semicircular base,
to immediate right of obelisk lap-indicator with
room for 7 egg-shaped balls (ova) above, to its
right column surmounted by statue facing left, to
immediate left of obelisk shorter counting-device
with room for 7 dolphins (delphinae) atop,
charioteer in quadriga emerging from the stalls
(carceres) on upper left, S C below. RIC 500a
(R3). An attractive example of this rare and
desirable sestertius. Dark and light brown patina.
Good very fine Ex Peus 384, 11 February 2005, lot
713. Estimate: $14,000.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=87047
Source LHS Numismatik AG Auction Auction 100
(23.04.2007) Lot 528 ( « | » )
Price 8000 CHF (~6608 USD) Description The Romans
The Roman Empire Estimate: CHF 5'500.00 -.
Sestertius (Orichalcum, 30.70 g 1), 213. M AVREL
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right. Rev. P M TR
P XVI IMP II COS IIII P P S C View of the Circus
Maximus in Rome, with its twelve entrances as seen
from the Forum Boarium; to left and right are
triumphal arches surmounted by statuary; above are
the shrines at the far side of the Circus; at the
center is the spina with its central obelisk and
on the right are three chariots racing to left.
BMC 252. C. 236. Hill 1372. RIC 500b. Very rare.
Attractive glossy dark green patina. Some pitting
in the patina, otherwise, extremely fine. Ex
Hess-Leu 9, 2 April 1958, 360.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=200776
Source Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction
Auction 51 (05.03.2009) Lot 355 ( «
| » ) Price 30000 CHF (~25530 USD)
Description Auction 51 Part I The Roman Empire
Caracalla augustus, 198 – 217 Sestertius 213, Æ
23.33 g. M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Laureate,
draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P XVI IMP
II View of the Circus Maximus with its arches, the
obelisk, the spina, chariots; in the background, a
temple and a colonnade. In exergue, COS IIII P P /
S C. C 236. BMC 251 and pl. 75, 4 (this reverse
die). RIC 500a [busto corazzato RIC 500b]. Very
rare and in superb condition for the interesting
and fascinating issue. Well struck and centred on
a full flan with an appealing enamel-like dark
green patina. Flan crack at four o’clock on
obverse, otherwise about extremely fine /
extremely fine Ex Triton sale II, 1998, 958. From
the William James Conte collection. The skeletal
outline of the Circus Maximus that remains today
is little more than a pale indication of the grand
structure that was a focal point for entertainment
in Rome. This hippodrome is said to have been
Rome’s oldest stadium, having originated from a
simple racetrack between the Aventine and Palatine
hills without a formal structure, to one
incorporating wooden, and then stone benches, and
finally a massive superstructure. Over time it was
decorated with monuments, statues, trophies,
shrines, arcades, towers, porticoes, triumphal
gates and arches, and with gilded metae at each
end of the spine (spina) of the sand racetrack. A
tall obelisk of Ramesses II was shipped to Rome in
10 B.C. by Augustus, who placed it in the center
of the spina, and yet another was added by
Constantius II. Pliny the Elder describes the
Circus as able to accommodate 250,000 people, but
this figure no doubt includes spectators who were
viewing from the slopes of the flanking hills.
However, at its peak in the mid-4th Century A.D.
it could seat more than 200,000 people. The Circus
was damaged on many occasions, including by fire
during the reigns of Augustus and Nero.
Restorations to the structure, it would seem, are
celebrated by Trajan, who issued sestertii showing
the hippodrome; these coins certainly were the
prototype upon which Caracalla’s engravers based
their work, for both show the structure from the
same elevated perspective to display the exterior
and interior, as well as many decorative features.
A variety of events were held there, including
parades, theatrical events, foot races, boxing and
wrestling matches, equestrian contests, and bloody
spectacles such as gladiatorial combats (ludi
gladiatorii) and exotic animal hunts (venationes).
Trajan issued coins showing a speech he gave to
citizens in the hippodrome, which was a prime
location for Romans to witness triumphal
processions. Chariot racing (ludi circenses) was
the most popular event to be held in the Circus.
In Trajan’s time two dozen races would have been
held in a day, with eight teams competing in each
event. A race consisted of seven predictably
dangerous laps that could be completed in less
than ten minutes. The chariots were usually pulled
by teams of two, three or four horses, though
occasionally there were teams of six horses –
certainly more of a crowd-pleasing novelty than a
practical event. It would seem the chariot races
had become even more popular by the later 4th
Century A.D., when contorniates showing
charioteers, their teams, and races in the
hippodrome were issued in many varieties.
Estimate: 30000 CHF.
- British Museum (v. link)
(page
address): Description Bimetallic copper
alloy coin. (obverse) Bust of Caracalla, laureate
and cuirassed, right. (reverse) View of the Circus
Maximus, with chariot-racing. Inscription Content:
M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Inscription
Content: P M TR P [XVI I]MP II Inscription
Position: reverse exergue Inscription Content: COS
IIII P P / S C Dimensions Weight: 33.81 grammes
Die-axis: 12 o'clock. RIC4 500b, p.295 (type).
- British Museum (v. link)
(page
address): Description Copper alloy coin.
(obverse) Bust of Caracalla, laureate and
cuirassed, right. (reverse) View of the Circus
Maximus, with chariot-racing. Inscription Content:
M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Inscription
Content: P M TR P [XVI I]MP II Inscription
Position: reverse exergue Inscription Content: COS
IIII P P / S C Dimensions Weight: 30,37 grammes
Die-axis: 12 o'clock. RIC4 500b, p.295 (type). The
reverse records the rebuilding of parts of the
Circus Maximus by Caracalla.
- http://www.smb.museum/ikmk/object.php?id=18200449
Ausstellung im Bode-Museum, Raum 241 BM-025/010
Städte und Monumente M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
BRIT. Drapierte Panzerbüste des Caracalla mit
Lorbeerkranz in der Rückenansicht nach r. P M TR P
XVI IMP II // COS IIII P P / SC. Ansicht des
Circus Maximus mit Spina in der Mitte der Rennbahn
samt Obelisken sowie angrenzenden Architektur. Auf
der Bahn r. ein nach l. fahrendes Gespann. Date
213 n. Chr. Denomination Sesterz Material Bronze
Weight 25,23 g Diameter 32 mm Die-axis 12 h Mint
Rom Reference RIC IV-1 Nr. 500; Friedländer - von
Sallet Nr. 1032 E. Object number 18200449.
La moneta di figura è la replica di un sesterzio di
Caracalla, sottoposta da lula47
ad un processo di "invecchiamento" chimico per
simulare la presenza di una patina. A parte l'errore
di cui alla nota3, non si vede
perché si sia ritenuto di qualificare, come copia del
Paduan, questa replica.
Giulio De Florio
------------
Note:
(1) Raccolgo in
tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei sesterzi
della tipologia di figura ricavate dai link di cui sopra e dal
manuale BMC:
Riferimenti |
Peso (g) |
Diametro (mm) |
Asse di conio (h) |
Link1 |
23,02 |
- |
1 |
Link3 |
21,06 |
33 |
- |
Link4 |
21,06 |
- |
- |
Link5 |
30,70 |
- |
1 |
Link6 |
23,33 |
- |
- |
Link7 |
33,81 |
- |
12 |
Link8 |
30,37 |
- |
12 |
Link9 |
25,23 |
32 |
12 |
Non si dispone di dati in ordine alla replica di
fig. 1.
(2) La moneta fu battuta nel
213, quando Caracalla fu investito per la 16.ma
volta dei poteri di tribuno.
(3) Marcus AVRELius ANTONINVS
Pius AVGustus BRITANnicus. La leggenda del dritto è
palesemente errata (BRITAN al posto di BRIT).
(4) Pontifex Maximus TRibunicia
Potestate XVI IMPerator II COnSul IIII Pater
Patriae. La moneta celebra la ricostruzione di parti
del Circo Massimo ad opera di Caracalla.
|