Obverse: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT; Draped Bust
of Geta Facing Right
Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA; Felicitas Standing to
the Left, Holding a Caduceus and a Cornucopiae
Publius Septimius Geta was Roman emperor from
209 to 212, jointly with his father, Septimius
Severus (reigned 193-211), and his brother,
Caracalla (reigned 198-217). The younger son of
Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, he was given
the title “Caesar” in 198, when the title
“Augustus” was bestowed upon his elder brother
Caracalla, effectively sharing command with their
father. In 209, Geta was himself made an
Augustus, joining the ranks of his father and
brother. The furious rivalry that developed
between the brothers remained concealed from
public view as long as their father lived; but after
Severus' death at Eboracum (modern York,
England) in February 211, the brothers formed
separate military factions. Civil war threatened
until February 212, when Caracalla had Geta
murdered in their mother's arms in her
apartment at the imperial palace.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. This ancient coin is a memorial
an emperor’s brief reign passed from the hands
of civilization to civilization, from generation to
generation that still appears as vibrant today as
the day it was struck.
- (C.5206)
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