Roman Empire

Geta, Co-Emperor AD 209-212

RIC 73b; BMC p. 360, note †; Calicó 2876 (same dies as illus.), Superb Mint State

Rome, AD 209/10. IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG, laureate bust of Geta right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Reverse: CONCORDIAE AVGG, Caracalla and Geta standing facing one another, each in military attire and holding spear, clasping hands.

Ex Triton XIV (4 January 2011), 763

The younger son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, P. Septimius Geta was appointed Caesar by his father in AD 189, at the same time that his brother Caracalla was made Augustus. This disparity in power combined with an inborn jealousy of each other was a constant course of tension within the imperial family. Severus reportedly brought both sons on his British campaign in AD 209 in an attempt to discipline them, but then appeased Geta with the title of Augustus the following year. After their father died, the two brothers were hailed as joint emperors. On December 26, AD 211, having shared power for less than a year, Caracalla had Geta murdered in his mother’s arms. In the aftermath, Caracalla ordered the destruction of Geta’s images and the erasure of his name from monuments. This aureus depicts Geta and Caracalla clasping hands with a legend advertising Concordia on the reverse. It would be difficult to find a greater numismatic lie.