Caracalla Denarius Ancient Roman Empire Silver Coin 202AD RIC 63

Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Bust of Caracalla, laureate, draped, right
Reverse: PART MAX PONT TR P V, Two captives, seated back to back, mourning, left and right of central tropaion
Date: 202 A.D.
ID: RIC IV Caracalla 63
Size: 19mm diameter, 3.26g weight
Composition: Silver

A tropaion, from which the English word "trophy" is derived, was a monument erected to commemorate a victory over one's foes. The armor of the defeated foe would be hung upon the monument.

Caracalla was a cruel and tyrannical leader according to ancient historians. He and his brother Geta became co-emperors in 211 A.D. upon their father's death. The two brothers had a fierce hatred of one another, which culminated in Caracalla having Geta stabbed to death later that year and declaring himself sole emperor (then massacring 20,000 of Geta's friends and supporters). 

Caracalla spent nearly his entire reign campaigning with his armies, and styled himself a soldier-emperor. He met his end in 217 A.D. (29 years old) at the sword of a common Roman soldier, who was angry that Caracalla had not approved his promotion to centurion (and who was possibly encouraged/aided in the assassination by Caracalla's general Macrinus, who became the next emperor).