Caracalla, with Plautilla, 202-205. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 6.95 g, 5 h), Rome, 202. ANTON P AVG PON TR P V COS Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind. Rev. PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE Draped bust of Plautilla to right. BMC 395. Cohen 1. RIC 66 cor. (misdescribed as 'Denarius'). Extremely rare. An issue of tremendous historical interest and with two portraits of enchanting style. Traces of mounting and with some very minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

With probably only eleven examples known, this is one of the great rarities in Severan coinage. It is only the second example to appear on the market in recent years, with the other in Aureo & Calico Imagines Imperatorum, 15 February 2012, 174 (450'000 EUR) = Leu 87, 6 May 2003, 61 (70'000 CHF). This issue was struck to celebrate the marriage of Caracalla and Plautilla, the daughter of Septimius' praetorian prefect Plautianus. Designed to strengthen Plautian's dominant position in court, the marriage actually became a major accelerator of his downfall: Caracalla had never liked Plautilla and schemed an intrigue against her detested father, who was killed in 205 under the order of Septimius. The marriage was annulled and Plautilla was exiled to the island of Lipara, where she lived, isolated and in constant fear, until 211, when Caracalla succeeded to the trone and had her executed