Caracalla Augustus, 198 – 211
Aureus circa 207, AV 7.28 g. ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PROVIDENTIA Winged head of Medusa facing. C –. BMC –. RIC –, cf. 164 (denarius). Calicó 2800 (these dies). Faces of Power 426 (these dies). Of the highest rarity, apparently only the second and finest specimen known. A very attractive portrait and a reverse type of enchanting beauty perfectly struck and centred on a full flan. Extremely fine This coin belongs to a larger series of aurei and denarii struck by Severus and Caracalla featuring the head of Medusa alone (as here) or as part of the Aegis of Jupiter—usually characterized as the skin of a goat or great serpent with supernatural protective powers. However, the head of Medusa on this series does not have the monstrous features of her image in earlier Greek and Roman art. Instead, it depicts the cursed nymph as a beautiful woman facing three-quarters to the left, with only a hint of her serpentine aspect at her neck and above her head, but not really in her flowing hair, which one might almost dare to suggest reflects some influence from depictions of Helios on the coins of Hellenistic Rhodes. This image of Medusa is commonly known the “beautiful Medusa” type or the Medusa Rondanini type, after a celebrated Roman marble copy of an original Greek sculpture of the head that was exhibited at the Palazzo Rondanini in the Renaissance. It went on to become the logo of Versace in modern times. Although the original model of the “beautiful Medusa” is sometimes attributed to the fifth or fourth century BC, this seems early and the ultimate model is more likely to be a famous gilt-bronze aegis given to Athens by the Seleukid king Antiochus IV around 170 BC. It was still prominently displayed on the wall of the Acropolis in the late second century AD, according to Pausanias. The depiction of Medusa here is thought to be a general reference to Minerva, the regular custodian of the Aegis in mythological tradition and in Roman art. Minerva was a goddess favored by Severus while Medusa herself had the power to turn her adversaries to stone with her gaze, making her a widely recognized symbol used to avert evil. In AD 207-early 208, when this coin was struck (based on the dates of Severus TR POT XV and Caracallas TR POT XI indicated on some of the denarii), there was still much evil to be averted for the Severan dynasty. The hatred between Caracalla and his brother Geta was increasing and threatening to damage their fathers carefully formed dynastic image while Britannia was plagued by invasion and in need of imperial assistance. The providence or foresight advertised by the reverse legend simultaneously alludes to the preparations for the British campaign that began in AD 208 and perhaps also to Severus decision to bring his sons in the hope that their differences could be settled. Unfortunately, while Medusa averted the danger of the Caledonians and success was granted in Britannia.