Caracalla as Caesar - MARS VLTOR - Does this coin exist?

[Aeneas]

Dear Board

Did anyone of you see this denarius of Caracalla as caesar?

M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF
Draped bust right

MARS VLTOR
Mars advancing right, holding spear and trophy

Ref.: RIC p. 213, 10, RSC 148

Both RIC and BMC in their notes say that the coin is very doubtful, however in Reka Devnia there should have been 18 (!) specimen. Please do not confound with the common MARTI VLTORI denarius.

I suppose, that this coin probably does not exist (as official coin) and that the description in Cohen and in the inventory of Reka Devnia are wrong but what do you think?

Thanks, David

[Lerian]

David,

I have never knowingly seen that type. I am just wondering, if it does exist, that it hasn't been mistaken and ovelrooked

for the common MARS VLTORI type, RSC: 154   RIC: 11   BMC: 202.

Which could mean that the RD figures did the same?


 

[vrtsprb]

MARS VLTORI type

Note that would be MARTI VLTORI as MARS VLTORI is grammatically incorrect.


Cheers,

G/<
.

[curtislclay]

The answer is easy:

There is no MARS VLTOR type, because Cohen 148 cites the BM as his source. But he obviously simply misread BM 203, pl. 10.10, which was the BM's only specimen of this type in Cohen's day, and which clearly shows MARTI VLTORI. See BMC 202 note on Cohen's alleged MARS VLTOR type: "not in B.M., as he says; very doubtful."

As to the Reka Devnia hoard, the report lists 116 specimens with MARTI VLTORI (C. 154), all in Sofia, plus 18 specimens with MARS VLTOR (C. 148), all in Varna! Obviously the Varna coins too must in fact show MARTI VLTORI, and they were just placed in error under Cohen 148. So the correct RD count should have been: MARTI VLTORI, 116+18 spec. = 134; MARS VLTOR, no specimens in either museum.

[Aeneas]

Many thanks to all. That confirms my asumption.

David