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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Shea19, post: 7796905, member: 90981&quot;]I recently added one of my favorite coins of the year, a denarius of Caracalla struck within a year after he had his younger brother (and co-emperor) Geta assassinated. </p><p><br /></p><p>The coin has the reverse legend PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM (“Providence of the Gods”), a propaganda message often used to support the emperor&#039;s legitimacy by projecting that he was chosen to rule by the foresight and will of the Gods, and that he has the Gods&#039; backing and protection.&nbsp; Though many emperors used a similar reverse type, it&#039;s an especially interesting and fitting reverse type for Caracalla, who attributed his murder of Geta to “divine providence.”&nbsp;&nbsp; The coin also has a nice portrait of an angry, unhinged-looking Caracalla, which I always enjoy.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I especially like about this coin is that I was able to buy a &quot;companion&quot; piece for it.&nbsp; When I learned that Geta had actually also issued coins with a “Providentia Deorum” reverse, I knew that I had to get one.&nbsp; Though Geta may have projected that his rule was justified by the providence and backing of the gods, Caracalla obviously had other ideas.&nbsp; For two brothers whose fates are forever linked, I thought that this was a fun pair of coins to add to the collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338623[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caracalla, AR denarius, circa 212 A.D., Rome mint, (18mm, 3.08 g), ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head of Caracalla to right/Rev. - PROVIDENTIAE - DEORVM, Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe at feet and sceptre. RIC 227</p><p><br /></p><p>The tag from Harlan J. Berk (presumably written by Curtis Clay, who knows a thing or two about Severan coins <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />), notes that &quot;Caracalla attributes Geta&#039;s assassination to divine providence&quot;, and dates the coin to 212 A.D.&nbsp; That indicates that this coin was struck not long after Geta&#039;s assassination in December of 211 A.D.</p><p><br /></p><p>And here&#039;s the companion denarius of Geta:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338268[/ATTACH]</p><p>Geta, as Caesar, AR Denarius circa 203-208 A.D., (18.9mm., 3.48g.), P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta to r. / Rev. PROVID DEORVM Providentia standing l., holding wand over globe in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand. RIC 51.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Geta denarius was issued several years earlier while their father Septimius Severus was still alive, and his foresight in thinking that his two boys could somehow work together obviously did not turn out the way he had hoped. </p><p><br /></p><p>And a nice little &quot;family reunion&quot;:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338625[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And while I&#039;m at it, I also recently scored a provincial bronze featuring both brothers, so I figured I&#039;d share this one here too. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338269[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caracalla, Moesia, Marcianopolis,&nbsp; (AE, 26.5mm., 10.33g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed busts of Caracalla and Geta facing each another/ Rev Homonoia standing l., wearing kalathos, holding patera and cornucopia;in l. field, Є.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Please share your favorite coins of Caracalla, Geta, reverses with Providentia or Providentia Deorum, any of your favorite coin &quot;pairs&quot;, or anything else relevant!</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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