95 / 184
Magnificent Septimius Severus with Caracalla and Geta,
as Caesar Gold Aureus
1239
Septimius Severus, with Caracalla and Geta, as Caesar. Gold Aureus (7.53 g), AD 193-211. Rome, AD
201. SEVERVS PIVS AVG P M TR P VIIII, laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Rev. AETERNIT
IMPERI, confronted busts of Caracalla, on left, laureate, draped and cuirassed, and Geta, on right,
bare-headed, draped and cuirassed. (RIC 174; BMC 254; Calicó 2602 (same dies)).
Extremely rare issue
.
A
magnificent example. About as struck. Superb extremely fine.
$ 35,000
ex NAC 78 (26 May 2014), lot 1025
.
This beautiful and rare coin belongs to the dynastic series issued by Septimius Severus as a sign that after years of civil war, the
Empire would again enjoy stability. The succession was made secure by his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who were trained as his
successors and are depicted on the reverse. The legend surrounding their portraits, which refers to ”everlasting [Roman] rule” leaves
no doubt about Severan dynastic pretensions. Unfortunately, the stability that Severus wished to present was largely a sham as a
terrible sibling rivalry existed between Caracalla. Despite their father’s best’ efforts to heal the rift between the brothers, the gulf
only widened over time, and after his death in AD 211 his sons did not last a year sharing power before Caracalla murdered Geta,
destroying the dynastic image that Septimius Severus had crafted.