Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XII 29 September 2016
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Geta Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 211. P SEPTIMIVS GETA PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate bust right / TR P III COS II P P, Italia seated left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; at her feet, female figure (Annona or Ceres?) seated to left holding stalk of grain; at side of throne, river-god Tiber reclining to right, hand on urn. RIC 171a; BMC 45; Banti 55. 25.33g, 33mm, 12h.
Near Mint State. Very Rare, and in incredible state of preservation. Untouched surfaces, and undoubtedly the finest known.
From the Alban Collection.
The intense mutual dislike that the sons of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna had for each throughout their lives is well known. Although Septimius intended for Caracalla and Geta to jointly rule the empire after his death in the manner of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, and despite the best efforts of the emperor and empress to reconcile their sons, the two brothers were incapable of working together.
Until the death of Septimius in AD 211, Caracalla and Geta had portraits on the imperial coinage that were so similar that they were virtually indistinguishable by their faces alone. However, after the death of Septimius, in an effort to be seen as the true successor by virtue of similitude, Geta had his portraits made in the old likeness his father, with a longer beard sporting luxuriant curls, which he no doubt hoped would add a look of maturity as well as implying that the apple had not fallen far from the tree.
The seated figure on the reverse, though not specifically named as Italia, is identified as the personification of Italy on the basis of the presence of the river god beside her throne, who must represent Tiber, and the small figure before holding a stalk of grain, marking her out as either Ceres or Anonna (most likely the latter, since Ceres would take precedence over Italia). Holding a cornucopiae, the figure of Italia is likely intended to convey a theme of prosperity and bounty, a positive message for the beginning of his reign, which would be cut brutally short by his brother only months later.
Near Mint State. Very Rare, and in incredible state of preservation. Untouched surfaces, and undoubtedly the finest known.
From the Alban Collection.
The intense mutual dislike that the sons of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna had for each throughout their lives is well known. Although Septimius intended for Caracalla and Geta to jointly rule the empire after his death in the manner of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, and despite the best efforts of the emperor and empress to reconcile their sons, the two brothers were incapable of working together.
Until the death of Septimius in AD 211, Caracalla and Geta had portraits on the imperial coinage that were so similar that they were virtually indistinguishable by their faces alone. However, after the death of Septimius, in an effort to be seen as the true successor by virtue of similitude, Geta had his portraits made in the old likeness his father, with a longer beard sporting luxuriant curls, which he no doubt hoped would add a look of maturity as well as implying that the apple had not fallen far from the tree.
The seated figure on the reverse, though not specifically named as Italia, is identified as the personification of Italy on the basis of the presence of the river god beside her throne, who must represent Tiber, and the small figure before holding a stalk of grain, marking her out as either Ceres or Anonna (most likely the latter, since Ceres would take precedence over Italia). Holding a cornucopiae, the figure of Italia is likely intended to convey a theme of prosperity and bounty, a positive message for the beginning of his reign, which would be cut brutally short by his brother only months later.