Caracalla, as Augustus (AD 198-217). AR denarius (19mm, 3.42 gm, 12h). NGC AU 4/5 - 3/5. Rome, AD 206. ANTONINVS-PIVS AVG, laureate head of Caracalla right / LAETITIA / TEMPORVM, galley under sail in center of Circus Maximus; four quadrigas charging left above; wild animals below (from left to right): ostrich standing right, lion and two tigers chasing wild donkey right, bull butting left, and bear standing right, head reverted. RIC IV.I 157. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 447 (3 July 2019), lot 484 The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus. We have a detailed account from Cassius Dio of another earlier event: "The entire receptacle in the amphitheatre had been constructed so as to resemble a boat in shape, and was capable of receiving or discharging four hundred beasts at once; and then, as it suddenly fell apart, there came rushing forth bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses, bisons [...] so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.'' (Cass. Dio 77.1.4-5).

HID09801242017

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