The New York Sale
Auction 32 8 January 2014
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ANCIENT COINS. Roman Coins. Mint of Rome unless otherwise stated. Geta (A.D. 209-212), Gold Aureus, 7.12g, 12h.Struck A.D. 210-211.P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT, head of Geta facing right, laureate. Rev. LIB AVGG VI ET V, congiarium scene: Caracalla and Geta seated left on a platform; before them, Liberalitas stands left, holding tessera and cornucopiae; a citizen climbs the steps at the foot of the platform (RIC 87 (reverse legend incorrectly described); Calicó 2888; BMC 64, pl. 54, 18 (this obverse die); C 70).A beautiful example in an exceptionally high state of preservation, struck on a broad flan, with a wonderful portrait, lustrous, good extremely fine and superb.Very rare with a fine old pedigree.
Ex Caruso Collection, Canessa, 28 June 1923, lot 453
Ex Vinchon, Paris, 14-15 December 1999, lot 738
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 38, Zürich, 21 March 2007, lot 116
This fascinating and very rare issue depicts the imperial congiarium, where generous distributions were handed-out to citizens.The above congiarium is likely to have been that which took place upon Caracalla and Geta's return to Rome following the death of their father, Septimius Severus, at York in A.D. 211.The reverse inscription refers to this event as being the sixth of Caracalla and the fifth of Geta.The two co-emperors are depicted together seated on the platform, accompanied by the personification of the distribution, Liberalitas.She holds the board that would have held the correct number of coins to be distributed to each person.Although a number of other officials would no doubt have been involved in the congiarium when it took place, this reverse type provides an extremely interesting depiction of how emperors would interact with Roman citizens.
Part of the Aurora Collection.
Estimate: US$ 45,000
Ex Caruso Collection, Canessa, 28 June 1923, lot 453
Ex Vinchon, Paris, 14-15 December 1999, lot 738
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 38, Zürich, 21 March 2007, lot 116
This fascinating and very rare issue depicts the imperial congiarium, where generous distributions were handed-out to citizens.The above congiarium is likely to have been that which took place upon Caracalla and Geta's return to Rome following the death of their father, Septimius Severus, at York in A.D. 211.The reverse inscription refers to this event as being the sixth of Caracalla and the fifth of Geta.The two co-emperors are depicted together seated on the platform, accompanied by the personification of the distribution, Liberalitas.She holds the board that would have held the correct number of coins to be distributed to each person.Although a number of other officials would no doubt have been involved in the congiarium when it took place, this reverse type provides an extremely interesting depiction of how emperors would interact with Roman citizens.
Part of the Aurora Collection.
Estimate: US$ 45,000