The Roman Empire Geta caesar, 198 – 209 Aureus 200, AV 7.07 g. P SEPT GETA – CAES PONT Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. SEVERI INVICTI AVG PII FIL Half-length and radiate bust (Caracalla ?) l., draped and cuirassed wearing aegis; r. hand raised. C 1. BMC S. Severus 244 var. (bust seen from behind). RIC 21 var. (bust seen from behind, misdescribed legend). Calicó 2930 (2930b this obverse die). Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Two enchanting portraits of great style and beauty struck in high relief on a full flan, minor edge marks, otherwise good extremely fine Hill places this dual-portrait aureus in the final issue of 200, thus predating by a few weeks the inauguration of the more familiar dynastic series of 201. The combination of an unusual inscription and an ambiguous type has solicited many opinions about the interpretation of this coin. Due to the saluting pose of the young man on the reverse, his radiate crown, and likely also the inclusion of INVICTI in the inscription, there is no reason to doubt that this imperial figure is being equated with Sol Invictus, the 'unconquered' or 'invincible' sun-god. The question remains, though, is it Caracalla or Geta? Alföldi, van Heesch, and Carson all consider it to be Geta, with Carson suggesting that it celebrates the appointment of Geta as Caesar and Caracalla as Augustus, which had occurred at Ctesiphon on January 28, 198. Mattingly, Hill, and Calicó all favour Caracalla, though when Mattingly and Sydenham penned the fourth volume of RIC, they made no firm decision.