CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Geta as Caesar. AD 193-211. Æ (35mm, 22.02 g, 6h). Damnatio Memoriae. Philon, prytanis. Good VF.

Electronic Auction 616
Lot: 523.
Closing Date: Sep 2 2026 10:00 ET

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 200

BID NOW

CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Geta as Caesar. AD 193-211. Æ (35mm, 22.02 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/m: ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding transverse scepter; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 73901; SNG von Aulock 8162. For c/m: Howgego 536. Brown surfaces, minor marks. Good VF.

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.

Closing Date and Time: 2 September 2026 at 12:54:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.