Here's a coin I just acquired from a fellow CoinTalk member: Roman Empire. Thrace, Pautalia. AE 30 (17.1 g). Geta, as Augustus (209-211). Obverse: Laureate head of Geta right, Greek legend around "Aut K P Septi Getas". Reverse: Asklepios standing, head left, right hand resting on staff with single entwined serpent, Greek legend around "Oulpias Pautalias". Varbanov 5334, Ruzicka 878. This coin: Won from @John Anthony latest auction, ex @Theodosius collection. Geta was born in 189, the younger son of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (reigned 193-211), and he frequently quarreled with his older brother Caracalla. While Caracalla was only a year older, their father raised him to the rank of co-Augustus in 198, which was presumably a largely honorary title given that Caracalla was just 10 at the time. He did not grant the same title to his younger son, however, until 209, which must surely have rankled Geta. On February 4, 211, Septimius Severus died, leaving the empire jointly to his two sons. Their quarreling intensified, and only their mother Julia Domna could make temporary peace between them. On December 26 of 211, their mother arranged a reconciliation meeting between the two co-emperors. However, the Praetorian Guards, probably acting on orders from Caracalla, stabbed Geta to death, and he died in his mother's arms. Caracalla then ordered a damnatio memoriae against his brother, and records were destroyed, coins and statues defaced, and a reported 20,000 of Geta's associates and followers were killed. While Geta's story is both fascinating and tragic, I bought this coin mainly for the reverse type. Asklepios was a god of medicine and healing, which is something the world needs a lot of right now. Please share your coins with Asklepios or other healing-related designs.
It should be added that Caracalla issued a damnatio memoriae against Geta, and much of the younger brother's coinage was melted down, which makes it scarce. Decent provincial bronzes are always highly desirable, at least in my book.
Appealing coin, @Parthicus ! I enjoy the coins of Pautalia because they have so many different reverse types and Ruzicka is such a helpful reference. Informative overview of the life and tragic fate of Geta, too. I have several coins of Asklepios and Aesculapius. Here are a few favorites. I like this one because it features both Hygieia and Asklepios side by side: Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial Æ 22.7 mm, 6.54 g, 7 h. Thrace, Hadrianopolis, AD 147-155. Obv: ·I·AVCTEINA CEBACTH, pearl-diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, Hygieia, feeding serpent from patera, and Asklepios, leaning on serpent-entwined staff, standing facing one-another. Refs: RPC (temp) 10453; SNG Cop 560; Jurukova 84-87; Varbanov 3219; Moushmov 2521; Mionnet suppl. 2, 636. This interesting one features Asklepios in a rather Parthian-appearing hairstyle and Faustina Jr in a hairstyle she never actually wore: Faustina II, AD 147-175/6. Roman provincial Æ 17.1 mm, 3.04 g, 7 h. Lydia, Dioshieron, Magistrate L. Iouli. Mithres (Grammateus), AD 147-161. Obv: ΦAVCTЄINA CЄBACTH, bare-headed and draped bust right, hair in a top-knot and looped ponytail. Rev: ЄΠI MIΘPOV ΔIOCIЄPЄITΩN, Asklepios standing left, holding serpent-entwined staff. Refs: RPC IV.2, 1236 (temp); BMC 22.76, 12; SNG Cop 116; SNG Turkey 240-41; Waddington 4963. Notes: Double-die match to Paris specimen (BNF) and Ashmolean specimen. And I like this one for the artistic rendering of Asklepios on the reverse: Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. Roman Provincial Æ 27.2 mm, 8.75 g, 6 h. Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Legate Um(brius?) Tereventinus, AD 226-227. Obv: AVT K M AVP CEVH AΛEZANΔPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: HΓ ȢM TEPEBENTINOV MAPKIANOΠOΛIT-ΩN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding serpent staff. Refs: AMNG I 1027; Moushmov 696; Varbanov 1685 (same dies).
While we hear that all the time, there are way too many Geta coins for it to have been all that wide spread or effective. I really do not understand how the coins with the two brothers together managed to survive. Marcianopolis How did the coins of Geta as Augustus manage to get so worn? Nicopolis ad Istrum / Artemis
Cool new acquisition parthicus! Asklepii? and Hygieia too. Definitely need all the healing we can get. Marcus Aurelius, AE25 of Pautalia, Thrace. 161-180 AD. Obv: Bare-headed, cuirassed bust right. Rev: Hygieia standing right, feeding serpent in arms.
