Caracalla, 198-217. Denarius (Silver, 21 mm, 3.33 g, 7 h), Rome, 206. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Rev. LAETITIA / TEMPORVM Galley under sail in center of Circus Maximus; four quadrigae above; below, wild animals, among them ostrich, two lions chasing wild donkey, bull and bear. BMC 508. Cohen 118. RIC 157. Rare. A lightly toned and unusually complete example. Good very fine.
The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus, which Cassius Dio, though referring to an earlier event, describes in detail: '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)