Geta. Damned... again!

When I bought one of these damnatio of Geta bronzes of Stratonicaea late last year, @dougsmit gently suggested I'd "need" another one with a different reverse. He mentioned the Zeus on horseback type, which I was glad to add to my want list, not expecting it to actually join my collection any time soon. Afterall, how many damnatio of Geta coins does one need? Well, this new arrival is another Geta damnatio from Stratonicaea, but not the Zeus suggested by Doug, but a Hecate like my previous coin. So, why in the names of Hades and Hecate did I buy it? Well, since I apparently feel a need to justify the purchase, here are a few reasons...

#1. Big Reason - Geta's (erased) bust is on the left on this coin and on the right on my other. Why, I have no idea, but I'm curious as to the answer.

#2. Geta's bust is completely erased here, which is the typical case. On my first coin, only his face is scraped off.

#3. They both have different countermarks. *score!*

#4. And they were also struck by different magistrates (this is at least somewhat important, right?).

#5. Hans von Aulock had TEN of these in his collection, surely I can have two

#6. Hans von Aulock didn't have this exact variety - so take that SNG von Aulock Vol. 2!

#7. It cost me half the price of my first coin, so I've now brought my average price of these down by 25%. Woohoo!

#8. And finally, well, it is just impressively big, awesome to hold and look at, and historically cool as all heck...


CARACALLA [AND GETA]
Medallic AE. 28.75g, 38mm. CARIA, Stratonicaea, circa AD 209-211. Epitynchanontos, prytanis. SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG München –; SNG Tübingen –; cf. CNG 100, lot 1728; for c/m: Howgego 84. O: Confronted busts of [Geta - erased] right and Caracalla left, both laureate, draped, and cuirassed; c/m: Bust of Caracalla right within incuse circle. R: Hecate standing facing, head left, sacrificing from patera over altar and holding torch.

Here's my first one again for comparison...


CARACALLA [AND GETA]
Medallic AE. 17.85g, 36.2mm. CARIA, Stratonicaea, circa AD 209-211. Jason, son of Cleobulus, gramatteus. SNG von Aulock 2686; SNG Cop 512. O: Confronted busts of Caracalla right and [Geta - erased] left, both laureate, draped, and cuirassed; c/m: ΘEOY within rectangular incuse, head of Minerva right within circular incuse. R: Hecate standing left holding patera and torch; to left, hound standing left, head right.
Ex Dr Walter Neussel Collection

If you have any damnatio coins, please feel free to share them with us!

 

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Cool coins indeed.
No Geta for me, damn it, but here is a Hecate triple form. I believe she is rare on coins? not sure? In any form.
Phrygia, Apameia. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 2nd-3rd centuries A.D. Æ (15 mm, 2.26 g, 12 h). ΑΠΑ-ΜЄΙΑ, turreted and draped bust of city goddess, Apameia, right / CΩTЄI-PA, Hekate triformis standing, the left and right figures holding torches, the central figure holding patera. SNG von Aulock 3475; SNG Copenhagen 195-6; BMC 110-3. Dark green patina with sandy deposits. Very fine.

 

I really like the Hekate Triformis type; another one on the ol want list!

 

I've always wanted a Damnatio of Geta. Nice score!

 

Those are awesome coins, zumbly. I have Geta denarius that I've always hoped was a damnatio, but it could just be random damage:

 

All of your reasons are perfectly legitimate. It's a fabulous coin!

I have no damned Getas

 

Either ways, that’s a cool coin!

Hah! Good one .

 

I don't have one yet, but check out this encaustic wax portrait showing Geta's DM!

 

One of those damnatio issues us high on my want list. Jealous.

Feisty-looking Carcalla bust.

 

Have no damnatio coins, but great find/addition.

 

What an interesting expression on that bust. His youthful feistiness really comes through. Kind of a "You dare to cross me? Let's be clear about who's boss!" look.

 

Legitimate? I'd call them really excellent. Considering our timezones, there is never a hour that there is not someone awake appreciating these strange coins.

 

Nice score zumbly, of an interesting type.

 

Note the area in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows on Caracalla's statue. I have spent alot of time considering these "knotted" brows. This appears to be a relatively new stylistic change on the statuary (according to my amateur research), which is also reflected on sestertii of Phillip I, which also has the fierce knotted brow.

Caracalla wanted to be seen in his representations as fierce and angry, and that is probably the reason for the brow. Quite a change from the placid expression of Marcus Aurelius - for his namesake "Marcus Aurelius Antoninus" i.e. Caracalla!

 

Odd that of the whole obverse legend, only Domitian's name is scraped off. Also a worn gash across his bust. Possible damnatio?

Domitian, Roman Empire
AE as
Obv: IMP CAES DIVI F DOMITIAN AVG P M, laureate head right
Rev: TR P COS VIII DES VIIII P P, Minerva advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding shield in left hand, S-C in fields
Mint: Rome (struck 82 AD)
Ref: RIC 87

 

that's a fine coin with great patina, but i wouldn't think it's a damnatio.

 

..that right there is enough evidence, to me anyway, to believe the Sept. Severus was a black man. i know he was African and back then, there wasn't, i suppose, too much prejudice on a person simply based on skin color in an empire that covered the then known world*.(purdy much, save for Germania and maybe a few others)

 

I'd never seen these before! Highly evocative items, considered aesthetically -- the destruction of the neat symmetrical "confronted busts" layout by removing one of them creates this vivid feeling of absence where Geta is missing. Very striking.

 

indeed they are!.. by trying to erase Geta from history by removing his likeness on coins, etc, Caracalla unwittingly brought him to the forefront of remembrance and he himself became damned.

 

Agreed! Thanks for the many interesting comments shared, everyone.