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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
"Death at Carrhae" On April 8, 217 CE (four days after his 29th birthday), Caracalla was assassinated while traveling from Edessa to a temple near Carrhae. He was killed by an officer of his personal guard, Julius Martialis, during a stop when the emperor was relieving himself. The Greek historian Herodian notes that Martialis' brother had been executed on Caracalla’s orders a few days prior, possibly motivating the murder. Martialis himself was also killed shortly after.
Cassius Dio offers a different account, suggesting that a young legionary killed the emperor out of resentment for not being promoted to centurion. The soldier struck Caracalla with a single, but fatal, sword blow. Interestingly, the location of Caracalla's death was near the site of Rome's infamous defeat by the Parthians in 53 BCE.
Denomination: Antoninianus, Ag
Obverse: Radiate and draped bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
Reverse: Sol standing front, head to left, raising his right hand in salute and holding whip in his left, P M TR P XX COS IIII P P
Mint: Rome, 217 A.D.
Weight: 5,24 g
Diameter: 23mm
Provenance: Jean Elsen & ses Fils
Référence : 25.4 RIC IV 293e, RSC 390
Collection : IMPERIUM ROMANUM 04 - Severus