CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Geta as Caesar. AD 193-211. Æ (36mm, 28.94 g, 6h). Damnatio Memoriae. Philon, prytanis. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 129
Lot: 400.
Closing Date: May 14 2025 11:00 ET

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 500

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CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Geta as Caesar. AD 193-211. Æ (36mm, 28.94 g, 6h). Damnatio Memoriae. Philon, prytanis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind, vis-à-vis [laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta]; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding transverse scepter in left hand; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 73901; SNG von Aulock 8162. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Red-brown surfaces, light porosity, slight die shift on reverse. VF. Rare. 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.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 13 May at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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