Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich

Auction 127  –  17 November 2021

Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich, Auction 127

Roman Gold Coins featuring a Selection from two distinguished North Amercian ...

We, 17.11.2021, from 5:30 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

Geta caesar, 198 – 209
Aureus 200, AV 7.25 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 and misdescribed legend). Calicó 2930 (this obverse die).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. Two superb portraits of great style and beauty perfectly
struck and centred on a full flan. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex E. Bourgey 9 December 1935, 123; Leu 93, 2005, Perfectionist, 72 and Maison Palombo 17, 2018, 95 sales. Privately purchased from E. Bourgey in April 1954.
P. Septimius Geta was the second son born to Septimius Severus and Julia Domna and the younger brother of Caracalla. In AD 198, Severus designated both of his sons as his intended successors by elevating Caracalla to the rank of Augustus (full co-emperor) and Geta to that of Caesar (junior co-emperor). This differentiation of status despite the small difference in their respective ages (Caracalla was 15 and Geta 14 at the time) contributed to a growing jealousy and animosity between the brothers. Although Severus liked to present the public appearance of harmony within the dynastic family, the resentment between the brothers was only kept in check by the frequent peace-making attempts of their mother. Nevertheless, the relationship became so difficult between the brothers that at last Severus granted the title of Augustus to Geta as well in AD 209. This was followed by a family campaign against the Caledonians in Britannia. Unfortunately, during the campaign Severus fell ill and died at Eboracum (York) on 4 February AD 211, leaving Geta and Caracalla to rule the empire jointly. On 26 December AD 211, Caracalla summoned his brother to a meeting, claiming that he wanted to make peace between them, but when Geta arrived he was cut down by the swords of Caracalla’s guards and died in his mother’s arms. This beautiful gold aureus was struck while Geta was still only Caesar, as indicated by the obverse legend and his bare-headed portrait. It belongs to a larger series struck under Septimius Severus between AD 200 and 202 to advertise the imperial family and the stability of succession that it seemed to represent as well as to celebrate his victory in the Parthian war of 197-199 AD. The reverse type depicting the sun-god Sol is a clear allusion to Severus’ victory in the East, and the surrounding legend naming him Severus Invictus (”the Unconquered Severus”) seems to explicitly identify the Emperor with the god. Invictus was a regular cult title of Sol in the third century. In the decades after Severus the association of the emperor with Sol greatly increased until the latter was treated as the primary patron of Roman rulers. A curious feature of Sol on this coin, however, is his hairstyle and youthful appearance. This has led to the plausible suggestion that the reverse type actually depicts Caracalla in the guise of Sol. If this identification is correct, one can imagine a coin like this contributing to the troubled relationship between Severus’ sons. On the obverse Geta is depicted and named as Caesar and Pontifex, but on the reverse his brother is given the attributes of a god to whom their father is compared. How could jealousy not arise from something like this?

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Price realized 130'000 CHF
Starting price 80'000 CHF
Estimate 100'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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