lion, thunderbolt, Caracalla, Carausius, Alexander the Great, courage
The reverse type depicting a lion with a thunderbolt in its jaws was first used in 215 by the emperor Caracalla, noted for his interest in Alexander the Great. It is argued here that the type alludes to the two dreams experienced by the parents of Alexander the Great before his birth, that by his mother that a thunderbolt had struck her womb, and that by his father that he had used a lion-seal to seal the womb of his wife, where these pointed to the courage of their unborn son. Hence the type signifies courage like that of Alexander the Great.