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| The Rivalry of Caracalla and Geta |
| ©2000 The American Numismatic Society. Images are not to scale. Photography by Sharon Suchma, ANS Photography Department. |
1953.171.830: Stratoniceia. Bronze 37mm. 22.78 gr. Obverse: Busts of Caracalla and Geta (erased) facing. Legend obscured and worn but similar to AU KAI M AR ANTWNEINOS L SEP G]ETAS KA[ISAR. Reverse: Hekate standing wearing crescent and kalathos on head, holding torch and patera with hound to left. ...STRATONIKEWN. 198-209. Cf. SNG Von Aulock 2692 and BMC Caria, Stratoniceia 69.
This countermarked coin of Stratonicea in Caria, now Southwest Turkey, illustrates the rivalry between the Caracalla and Geta, the sons of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). Caracalla and Geta were 23 and 22 respectively when their father died. Each already held the title of Augustus, although Caracalla had been elevated in 198 whereas Geta only in 209. The rivalry between these two brothers was so intense that each tried to have the other poisoned early in their joint reign. Caracalla, seemingly the more audacious of the two, finally achieved his goal of sole-rule by having his brother murdered in December of 211, perhaps by centurions who cut down Geta at their mother's apartment. This victory was not by itself enough so that Caracalla further ordered that all images of his brother, including those on coins, be erased. Many coins with Geta's portrait obscured have survived and show the force, if not the wisdom, of imperial command at this time. The countermarks seen here, a helmeted head of Athena (Howgego 188) and the Greek word 'THEOU' or God (Howgego 536), are frequently paired on the Severan coinage of Stratoniceia.
Arch of the Silversmiths in Rome with Geta's image also erased.
Howgego, C., Greek Imperial Countermarks. Studies in the Provincial Coinage of the Roman Empire. London 1985. With further references given for marks 188 and 536.