It's Geta's Mortiversary

On 26 December 211AD was murdered on orders of his younger brother and co-emperor Caracalla. They were both children of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. This coin of Septimius Severus shows the two kids together, signalling his dynastic aspirations.

Images of Caracalla's detested brother were defaced in antiquity. This is an exceptionally rare ancient panel painting, now in Berlin. It was painted a little before 211, and after the murder Geta's portrait was effaced.

Coins of Geta are very common. There is no particular reason why they'd all have been hidden away, and the wide range of condition indicates that they circulated freely. But marble portraits of Geta are rare, and in at least one case his face was effaced from coins: the bronzes from Stratonicaea. I have no idea why Geta's coins are otherwise so common. I recently added this Stratonicaea bronze with effaced Geta to complement the dynastic denarius.

Hexassarion (?) 36mm, 14.40g, obverse: Caracalla, with Geta effaced, countermarked with another bust of Caracalla. Reverse Zeus Panaramos on Horseback.

Let's frustrate Caracalla's wicked damnatio by posting coins of Geta.

 

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Silver Denarius
Rome mint, A.D. 198-200
Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES
Rev: SPES PVBLICA - Spes, advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt
RIC 4
18mm, 3.4g.

 

Jean Le Pautre, The Emperor Caracalla killing his brother:


Geta as a thirteen-year-old:


Geta as Caesar.
AR denarius, 3.24 gm, 18.3 mm.
Rome, AD 202.
Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
Rev: SECVRIT IMPERII, Securitas enthroned l., hoding globe.
Refs: RIC-20; BMC-240; Cohen-183; Sear-7200; Hill-553.

 

GETA
CAES Pont/Felicitas-
PVBLICA Felicitas
stands N.L. Ric 9a, BMC
220-221, c. 38a, Hill
654.

 

The first issue of Geta as Caesar


Roman Empire
Geta as Caesar
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 198-200
Dia.: 18 mm
Wt.: 2.33 g
Obv.: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES. Bareheaded and draped bust right.
Rev.: FELICITAS TEMPOR. Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia.
Ref.: RIC IVa 2

 

Geta, as Caesar, Denarius. 198 AD.
Obv: P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, draped bust right
Rev: FELICITAS TEMPOR, Felicitas standing left left, holding cauduceus & cornucopiae.


The only Geta in our collection so far. Though we definitely want to add more. My son is about the age now that Geta was when he became Caesar.

 

Nice Stratonicaea damnatio, @Nerva. I was very tempted to bid on that one because of the Zeus Panormos reverse, but winning a large target in the Greek section consumed most of my available budget for that auction. I’m glad to see it here, though!

Oh, and Happy Mortiversary, Geta! They tried to scrape you off the coins, but we’ll always know you were there!

 

A tet made the year of his passing.


Geta (209 - 211 A.D.)
SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch.
AR Tetradrachm
O: AYT KAI GETAC CEB, laureate head right.
DHMARX EX YPATOC TO B, eagle standing left on groundline,
wings spread, head and tail right, wreath in beak.
Star in upper left and right fields.
Struck 211 - 212 A.D.
26mm
13.04g
McAlee 720; Prieur 213; Bellinger 1

 

Nice Damnatio! My only Geta:

Provincial Rome - Thrace
Geta, r. 209-212 A.D.
Nicopolis ad Istrum mint, AE28, 28.6 mm x 10 grams
Obv.: AVT K Π CЄΠ ΓЄTAC AV. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: V ΦΛ OVΛΠIAN NIKOΠOΛI / ΠPOC IC. Eagle standing facing on garlanded altar, head right, with wreath in beak and wings spread, signum to left and right
Ex. Doug Smith Collection #1523

 

GETA:

RI Geta AR Denarius 209-211 CE On horse spearing enemy

I cannot help to think about the coincidence and irony of my coins:

My Republican Geta coin is getting speared too...

RR C Hosidius C F Geta 68 BCE Diana bow quiver Boar Hound spear Sear 346 Craw 407-2

Looks like they are ALL getting stabbed...Geta, a Pig, a downed Soldier

 

Denarius celebrating (along with his father Septimius Severus and brother Caracalla) victory over Britannia during their Caledonian campaign.


RIC Vol. IV, GETA, Denarius, No. 91

Obverse: Geta, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT

 

Nerva, both coins are impressive rarities but the damnatio bronze with added counter-stamp is really special. This example of sibling rivalry & jealousy is one of the most famous in history! Attached below is a handsome Tet from Antioch, Syria of the mature Geta that I acquired long ago, 14.45 gm, McAlee #719. Also attached below is a famous carnelian intaglio from the Hermitage Museum picturing Severus with both sons.

 

Sets of denarii were struck with a different reverse depiction of Victory (but with the same legend) for each celebrant. Following is my set - there were others:

Overview: In AD 208 SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS set out for Britannia accompanied by his sons CARACALLA and GETA with the avowed aim of restoring the much damaged Hadrian's wall and subduing the warlike native tribes of northern Britain and Caledonia (Scotland). In AD 211 he became terminally ill during the campaign, and after proclaiming Victory over Britannia, he withdrew to his headquarters at Eboracum (York) where he died later that year.


RIC Vol. IV, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, Denarius, No. 335

Obverse: Septimius Severus, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: Victory (Britannia?) seated left writing on shield
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT


RIC Vol. IV, CARACALLA, Denarius, No. 231a

Obverse: Caracalla, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: winged Victory advancing right holding trophy
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT


RIC Vol. IV, GETA, Denarius, No. 91

Obverse: Geta, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT

 

He was 17 when this coin was minted, quite a suave haircut. Providentia holding rod and sceptre, sear 7197, 3.4gm Rome 206 AD.

 

Caracalla was older and had been named Caesar first. Caracalla was named Augustus when Geta was made Caesar. I would love to know the thought process that led Septimius to elevate the two when he did. He must have known that they would not have ruled together smoothly. Had he not elevated Geta to Augustus it is possible that Geta could have remained Caesar under his brother but making them equals guaranteed trouble.

This quadriga reverse is not one you see every day.


The Julia Domna of Alexandria below is, to the best of my knowledge, the only coin showing the two boys together that was issued after the death of Septimius earlier in 211. There are several types from the lifetime of Septimius but the boys would not have been fond of this coin after they were in charge. The LK date places it between September and December 211 when Geta died. I find it interesting that the figure at the right has his non-shaking hand on his sword. Did the die cutter know there was no love lost?

 

Happy Boxing Day Geta!

 

Disagreeing with someone as wise as @dougsmit is a dangerous thing to do, but I am going to very carefully do so in this case. Caracalla and Geta are known to have not gotten along even before the death of their father. In addition, in Imperial times two adult male siblings, cousins et cetera almost always meant trouble, as the old saying goes, "two Ceasars are a Ceasar too many." I think the curious thing is that both Caracalla and Geta survived as long as they did without one killing the other (and there is little reason to think that Geta wouldn't have killed Caracalla at some point if Caracalla hadn't gotten him first). The only reason I can come up with for both brothers surviving for almost a year after the death of Septimius Severus is the restraining influence of their mother Julia Domna. I cannot see how making Geta Caesar would have made him any less of a threat in the eyes of his brother.

 

Here's my only Geta, somewhat common:


uler: Geta (Augustus)
Coin: VF- Bronze AS
P SEPTIMIVS GETA PIVS AVG BRIT - Laureate head right
FORT RED TR P III COS II - Fortuna seated left, holding rudder & cornucopia, wheel under chair, S C in ex.
Exergue:


Mint: Rome (211 AD )
Wt./Size/Axis: 11.30g / 24.4mm / 360
References:

• RIC 175a
• Cohen 53
• BMC 273cf

Acquisition/Sale: imporatorcoins-and-estatesales eBay $0.00 05/18
Notes: Jun 13, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection