Geta caesar, 198 – 209
Aureus 200, AV 7.04 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 (these dies).
Very rare. Two superb portraits of great style and beauty perfectly struck
and centred on a full flan. Good extremely fine

Ex Münzhandlung Basel 10, 1938, 690; NGSA 4, 2006, 204 and MDC 6, 2020, 131 sales. Probably from the Karnakhoard of 1901.

Graded Ch AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556714-048

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.