This was a much appreciated gift from a CT member I got a few days ago. Every time I've tried to create this topic, I've had to run off Geta Denarius. P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, draped bust right / PONTIF COS II, Geta standing left, holding globe & short sceptre. RSC 117 RIC 61 What's everybody's opinion on Geta and Caracalla and their relationship?
nice gift RG! man, what do you say about these two... should make everyone feel pretty good about there family.
Ahhhh....nothing quite like brotherly love. Quite the heated rivalry, even by Roman imperial standards. I didn't realize Caracalla hated Geta so much he even had his own ex wife put to death for sympathizing with him. Here's a link to a nice summary on the topic with a numismatic theme. Although I can't really vouch for the historical veracity of this site, it makes for good reading. http://www.garstang.us/emperors/carandgeta.htm Here are my own two denarii of these infamous brothers. Caracalla; AD 198-217 Silver Denarius; 17mm/3.2 g OBV: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right REV: MARTI PROPVGNATORI, Mars walking left, holding spear and trophy. (RIC 223) Geta; AD 209-212; AR Denarius; 20mm/3.3g OBV: P SEPTIMVS GETA CAES; Draped bust right REV: PROVID DEORVM; Providentia standing L, holding wand over globe and scepter RIC IV 51
Sweet coin, randygeki (congrats) ... Oh, and very nice thread-additions Bannon (good job) Yah, these two bros really make me appreciate my own family (surprisingly, not one of my siblings has ever tried to kill me .... man, it kinda brings a tear to your eyes, yes?) ... anyway ... => I have a couple of examples to toss into your cool thread ... Geta. As Caesar, AR Denarius AD 198-209 Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 199-204 Rome mint Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.36 grams Obverse: Bareheaded and draped bust right Reverse: Castor standing slightly left before horse, holding bridle and scepter Caracalla AR Antoninianus Rome mint 198-217 A.D. Struck AD 215 Diameter: 24 mm Weight: 5.19 grams Obverse: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: Radiate / Luna driving biga of oxen left Reference: RIC IV 256c; RSC 294a
Not much to be said about these two only that Caracalla was most likely the worse of the pair. However, I wouldn't want Geta for a brother either. I'm the youngest, so my memories of childhood are more like this: That's me in the background on the side of whoever is winning at the moment. CARACALLA AR Denarius OBVERSE: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head right REVERSE: PONTIF TR P X COS II - Mars advancing right, holding spear and trophy Struck at Rome, 207 AD 3.9g, 18mm RIC 88, C 431 PLAUTILLA AR Denarius OBVERSE: PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust right REVERSE: CONCORDIAE AETERNAE, Plautilla & Caracalla clasping hands Struck at Rome, 202 AD 2.83g, 18mm RIC 361 GETA AR Denarius OBVERSE: GETA CAES PONT COS, draped bust right REVERSE: VOTA PVBLICA, Geta standing left, sacrificing out of patera over tripod & holding roll Struck at Rome, 205 AD 3.18g, 18mm RIC IV 38b
I did collect the coins of Geta as Augustus for a while. This is still my favourite. Geta denarius Obv:– IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– PONTIF TR P COS II, Geta on horseback riding left, spearing enemy beneath. Minted in Rome. A.D. 209 Reference:– BMC p. 359 17. RIC 68 (Rated Rare), RSC 130. Only 4 examples in RD so quite a rare coin on that basis
Great coins all If Geta made attempts to kill Caracalla, I could understand the counter plots. Caracalla AR Antoninianus. 216 AD. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate draped bust right, seen from behind / P M TR P XVIIII COS IIII P P, Serapis, modius on head, standing left, raising right hand & holding sceptre. Size: 22.5mm Weight: 5.3 grams RSC 349b. RIC 280b BMC 165. Hill (1964) 1573. Geta, as Augustus, Denarius. 210 AD. IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG, laureate head right / PONTIF TR P II COS II, Felicitas standing left, holding cornucopiae and long caduceus. RIC 69a, RSC 137 Or we could put blame somewhere else IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right; FORTVN REDVC, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia Unlisted Syrian mint.
My favorite Geta is the low grade but left facing as for which I might be more apologetic if you can show me a better one (for that matter, any other one). Compare to this denarius and the comment that it is not known for Geta. A bit younger is the denarius which is common for Geta. For some reason his young coins seem easier to find well made. Maybe he had fans at the mint but Caracalla was a brat??? Maybe the mint was just less careful the year before Geta was Caesar so he missed out on the bad looking coins. More ordinary is evidence that Caracalla was not the cutest of the kids. It is a Caesar denarius with sacrificial implements. These tend to be raggedy like this and often missing more legend. It is not my favorite Caracalla portrait but probably more accurate than the more handsome ones like the sestertius (which is my favorite Caracalla Caesar portrait). Both show a pointy chin not seen on Geta.
Geta as Caesar AE Denarius. 202 AD, 4.1g, 18mm OBV: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Draped bust right. REV: SECVRIT IMPERII, Securitas seated left, holding globe. REF: RIC 20, RSC 183, BMC 240, Sear (RCV 2000) 7200
Just for a change, here are portraits of the two brothers from Antioch, and then from Laodicaea (and its very distinctive oriental style) : Antioch Ref : Sear #2649 var, Prieur # 214A_001 Ref : Prieur #209_006 (same obverse die) Laodicaea Ref : Sear #2659 var, Prieur # 1176_028 Ref : Prieur #1157_012 Q
