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Roman Empire

Ruler: Plautilla wife of Caracalla
Reigned: married 202 AD - died 212 AD
Denomination: AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
Date of Issue: 202 AD
Obverse: Draped bust right - hair in horizontal waves and drawn into large bun at back. "PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE"
Reverse: Caracalla and Plautilla standing facing each other, clasping right hands. "PROPAGO IMPERI."[1]
Reference: RSC 21, RCV 2002, RCVM 7073, RIC 362
Weight: 3.1 gms
Diameter: 18.2 mm
Comment: [1] = "PROPAGO IMPERIVM" = (lit.) Imperial posterity (suggesting that Plautilla bore a child)

Publia Fulvia Plautilla, wife of Caracalla

  • Publia Fulvia Plautilla was the daughter of Septimius Severus's friend Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, Commander of the praetorian guard.
  • He married her off to his son Caracalla in 202 AD.
  • Caracalla had no choice in the matter and felt no affection whatsoever towards Plautilla.
  • In order to provide an entourage of eunuchs at his daughter's wedding, Plautianus had one hundred free Roman citizens castrated.
  • Caracalla also hated Plautianus and on 22nd January 205, a charge of treason was brought against him and he was put to death with Severus' approval
  • Plautilla was banished to Lipari.
  • Severus died at York on 4th February 211, and Caracalla and Geta became joint Augustii.
  • In February 212, Geta was murdered by Caracalla.
  • During the early months of 212, 20,000 associates of Geta were executed, among them, Publia Pulvia Plautilla
  • Numismatic evidence suggests that Plautilla bore a child, possibly a girl, born in 204 and was then exiled and murdered along with her mother.

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