Moesia Inferior. Nikopolis ad Istrum. Geta as Caesar AD 197-209.
Bronze Æ

17 mm, 3,36 g

[Λ ΑΥ Κ ΓЄΤΑC], bare-headed and draped bust to right / [NIKOΠOΛIΤΩ Π]POC ICTΡ, facing head of a bear.

Fine

AMNG I -; Varbanov 3232.

Publius Septimius Geta, commonly known as Geta, was a Roman Emperor who experienced a brief and tumultuous reign during the 2nd century AD. Born in AD 189, he was the younger son of Emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. In AD 198, Geta was raised to Caesar and he received the title of Augustus in 209. However, Geta's time as co-emperor was marred by fierce animosity and rivalry with his brother and also co-emperor Caracalla. Their father, Septimius Severus, tried to mediate between the two, but their mutual dislike persisted. After their fathers death, the situation escalated to a tragic climax in AD 211. During an intense argument, Caracalla ordered the assassination of his younger brother in the very presence of their mother, Julia Domna. Geta was ruthlessly killed, and his body was denied the customary funeral rites and honors. In the aftermath of Geta's death, Caracalla launched a campaign to erase his brother's memory and any reminders of his brief reign. He ordered a damnatio memoriae, which sought to obliterate Geta's name and image from public records and monuments. Many of Geta's supporters were also targeted and killed. As a result of Caracalla's ruthless actions, much of what is known about Geta comes from inscriptions and sources that managed to survive the attempt to erase his memory. Geta's tragic fate stands as a stark example of the power struggles and political intrigues that defined the Roman Empire during this era.