Caracalla augustus, 198 – 217. Sestertius 213, Æ 22.89 g. M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P XVI IMP II View of the Circus Maximus with its arches, the obelisk, the spina, chariots; in the background, a temple and a colonnade. In exergue, COS IIII P P / S C. C 236. BMC 251. RIC 500a.
Very rare and a pleasant specimen of this interesting and fascinating issue. A bold
portrait and a finely detailed reverse composition. Brown-green patina,
minor area of weakness on obverse, otherwise about extremely fine

Ex NAC 1, 1989, 915 and NFA XXX, 1992, 277 sales. From George C. Hopkins collection.

The skeletal outline of the Circus Maximus in Rome today is only a faint indication of the grand structure that once was the focal point for entertainment in capital. This hippodrome is said to have been Rome’s oldest stadium. It evolved from a simple racetrack between the Aventine and Palatine hills with no formal structure, to one incorporating wooden, and then stone benches, and finally a massive superstructure as seen on this sestertius. Over time the area was decorated with monuments, statues, trophies, shrines, arcades, towers, porticoes, triumphal gates and arches. Gilded metae at each end of the spine (spina) of the sand racetrack glistened in the sun, and a tall obelisk of Ramesses II that Augustus had shipped to Rome in 10 B.C. served as the center piece of the spina. Pliny the Elder describes the circus as able to accommodate 250,000 people, but this figure no doubt includes those viewing from the slopes of the flanking hills. However, at its peak in the mid-4th Century A.D. it is believed to have been able to seat more than 200,000 spectators. The circus was damaged on many occasions, including by fire during the reigns of Augustus and Nero. Restorations to the structure, it seems, are celebrated on coinage. For this reason, Trajan issued sestertii depicting the hippodrome, which probably served as the prototype for Caracalla’s issue since both show the structure from the same elevated perspective with simultaneous exterior and interior views. A variety of events were held there, including parades, theatrical events, foot races, boxing and wrestling matches and equestrian contests. Bloody spectacles were also hosted, such as gladiatorial combats (ludi gladiatorii) and exotic animal hunts (venationes). Chariot racing (ludi circenses), however, was the most popular event held in the circus. In Trajan’s time two dozen races would have been held in a single day, with eight teams competing in each event. A race consisted of seven laps that could be completed in less than ten minutes. The chariots were usually drawn by teams of two, three or four horses. Occasionally there were teams of six horses, which certainly was more of a crowd-pleasing novelty than a practical event.