BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Caracalla, 198-217. Diassarion (Bronze, 28 mm, 13.64 g, 2 h), circa 214-215. ANTΩNINOC• •AYΓOYCTOC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind. Rev. NIKAIEΩN Dionysos seated left on quadriga of elephants, holding kantharos in his right hand and thyrsos in his left. BMC -. RG 437 corr. RPC V.2 online 78232 (this coin illustrated). SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. Extremely rare. Minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine.



Elephant-drawn chariots are generally associated with funerary rites on Roman coinage. Here, however, the god Dionysos is depicted riding in the chariot, a clear reference to his chthonic nature and his role as a god of fertility - both aspects that evoke his connection to the underworld.