Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 2 11 May 2018
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Septimius Severus, 193-211. Aureus (Gold, 21 mm, 7.27 g, 12 h), Rome, 209. SEVERVS PIVS AVG Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM Caracalla and Geta, both laureate and togate, standing right and left, holding roll in their left hands and supporting, with their right hands, Victory standing left on globe and holding wreath and palm. BMC 312. Calicó 2435a. Cohen -. RIC 255. A superb, lustrous example, beautifully struck and with a splendid portrait. Very minor edge nick, otherwise, virtually as struck.
This wonderful piece was struck to celebrate the unity of the imperial family. It dates to 209, when Geta was appointed Augustus, a position his older brother Caracalla had already held for more than a decade. Septimius knew about the rivalry between his sons and he sincerely hoped that elevating Geta to the rank of his brother would remove the jealousy between the two. As it soon turned out, however, the well-intentioned move by the old emperor only increased the tensions and Septimius spent much of the last two years of his life trying to mediate between Caracalla and Geta.
This wonderful piece was struck to celebrate the unity of the imperial family. It dates to 209, when Geta was appointed Augustus, a position his older brother Caracalla had already held for more than a decade. Septimius knew about the rivalry between his sons and he sincerely hoped that elevating Geta to the rank of his brother would remove the jealousy between the two. As it soon turned out, however, the well-intentioned move by the old emperor only increased the tensions and Septimius spent much of the last two years of his life trying to mediate between Caracalla and Geta.