About

Issued to commemorate the reopening of the Circus Maximus in 213 AD after renovation.

These coins show the Circus as it would be seen from the Palatine Hill. The “Spina” runs along the centre with the obelisk of the Pharaoh Ramesses the Great in the middle. At each end of the spina are the “metae” (the groups of three conical columns where the charioteers turned). An equestrian statue of Trajan and a shrine of Cybele can be found immediately to the left and right of the obelisk, respectively (although I'm struggling to see the statue of Trajan).

In the foreground and to right are arcades and an arched gate. The carceres (starting gates) can be seen on the right, and opposite them on the left, the semicircular end of the structure. This has the triumphal arch of Titus which can be seen here by the statues that were on top of it. The temple of Sol and Luna is visible on the back left of the structure, in the seats and to the left of the obelisk. A picture might help here.

The arch on the bottom right should have a quadriga group (chariots) on top like the one at the back right, but that would obscure the view of the carceres, and that was the main feature that Caracalla updated.

Around the centre are some racing chariots.

See also:

• Caracalla - RIC IV 211B
• Caracalla - RIC IV 500A
• Caracalla - RIC IV 500C
• Caracalla - RIC IV 500D

Issuing Authority

Rome

Emperor

Caracalla

Denomination

Sestertius

Metal

Orichalcum

Obverse Legend

M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT

Obverse Description

Laureate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right

Reverse Legend

P M TR P XVI IMP II

Reverse Description

Overhead view of the Circus Maximus, with arcade of arches in foreground ending with a large arch on right. The stadium galleries beyond packed with spectators, four quadrigae racing around track; large spina (Egyptian obelisk) within COS IIII P P/S C in two lines in exergue

Mint

Rome

RIC

IV 500B

Cohen

236

BMCRE

253

Weight

23.11g - 25.35g

Date

213 AD

References

1. RIC IV 500B
2. Cohen 236
3. BMCRE 253
4. Harlan J. Berk’s “100 Greatest Ancient Coins” #31