Auction 126 28-29 May 2024
Session 1 begins closing in
21 days 8 hr 15 min
21 days 8 hr 15 min
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 126 28-29 May 2024
Auction 126 28-29 May 2024
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CARIA, Stratonicaea. Caracalla, with Geta as Caesar. AD 198-217. Æ (36mm, 26.35 g, 6h). Damnatio Memoriae. Zosimus II, grandson of Posittus, prytanis. Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 198-202. [Bareheaded and draped bust of Geta] vis-à-vis laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Hecate standing facing, head left, wearing calathus, holding patera and torch; at feet left, dog standing left, looking right. SNG von Aulock 2692. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina, scrape on reverse, small flan crack. Good VF. Portrait of Geta erased, Caracalla's damnatio memoriae of Geta applied after his murder in AD 211.
Upon Septimius' passing in AD 211, his sons Caracalla and Geta assumed joint rule of the empire. Their joint rule was a failure, the Imperial Palace was separated into two sections and they threatened to divide the empire between them. During the Festival of Saturnalia, December 211, Caracalla tried unsuccessfully to have his brother assassinated. But a week later, at an arranged meeting in their mother's quarters, Geta was murdered by Caracalla's centurions.
Caracalla immediately ordered a damnatio memoriae of his brother's image: statues were removed, paintings were destroyed or, like the Severan Tondo erased, and coins were recalled to have his image carved out. This damnatio was especially apparent on the provincial coinage of Pergamum in Mysia and Stratonicaea in Caria. It is estimated that approximately 95% of the dual bust types at Stratonicea have had the portrait of Geta erased, many of them having a countermark of Roma or Caracalla stamped over his bust.
Upon Septimius' passing in AD 211, his sons Caracalla and Geta assumed joint rule of the empire. Their joint rule was a failure, the Imperial Palace was separated into two sections and they threatened to divide the empire between them. During the Festival of Saturnalia, December 211, Caracalla tried unsuccessfully to have his brother assassinated. But a week later, at an arranged meeting in their mother's quarters, Geta was murdered by Caracalla's centurions.
Caracalla immediately ordered a damnatio memoriae of his brother's image: statues were removed, paintings were destroyed or, like the Severan Tondo erased, and coins were recalled to have his image carved out. This damnatio was especially apparent on the provincial coinage of Pergamum in Mysia and Stratonicaea in Caria. It is estimated that approximately 95% of the dual bust types at Stratonicea have had the portrait of Geta erased, many of them having a countermark of Roma or Caracalla stamped over his bust.