Caracalla 211 - 217 A.D.
Caracalla 211 - 217 A.D.
| Coin Description | Caracalla, AE 16mm, Grade ??, The obverse of the coin is struck slightly off-centre, Moushmov (online) #1109 Nikopolis ad Istrum reverse is on plate IX #13. |
| Obverse | The portrait is Caracalla a bare headed bust facing right.
The legend reads M AV KAI ANT NINOC
meaning: M AV (Marcus Aurelius his first names) KAI is for Kaisar which
is the Greek translation for the Latin word Caesar ANTNINOC
(Antoninus his last name). The legend on the obverse is quite difficult
to read. The text on the left site of the portrait M AV KAI is written mirror
image while the legend on the right site of the portrait ANTNINOC
is written backwards and should thus be read starting at the top right of
the bust down to the lower right site. The last three letters of the word
ANTNINOC
are not visible due to the obverse being struck off-centre. |
| Reverse | The reverse shows a basket overflowing with fruits
and grapes hanging over the side which is a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
The legend reads NIKO O IT
POC ICTP where
NIKOOIT
translates as NIKOPOLIT for the city Nikopolis (but because there where
multiple cities in ancient Rome called Nikopolis the legend continues)
POC reads as
( being Pi
and pronounced as P and P being a Rho which is pronounced as an R, C being
S) PROS meaning "by the" ICTP is short for ISTRON meaning the
river Istrus. So the total translation would be Nikopolis
ad Istrum. |
| Mint | Nikopolis ad Istrum |
| The Entire Story | The coin shows Caracalla as Caesar with on the reverse the
prosperity of the city of Nikopolis ad Istrum which is imho a sign of them
showing that they are happy with him as their future Augustus (whether they
meant it or not 
). |
Nikopolis ad Istrum was a Roman town established by the emperor Trajanus after the victory over the Dacis tribe (Nikopolis means city of victory). It enjoyed its vigorous growth under the reign of the emperors Constantine the Great and Justinian I. Archaeological excavations uncovered the fortified walls, main streets, many public buildings and dwellings of common people, thermaes etc.
