Geta Coins, 209 AD–211 AD

Geta was the younger son of Septimius Severus, elevated to Caesar in 198 AD and Augustus in 209. After their father's death at Eboracum (York) in 211, he and his brother Caracalla nominally co-ruled, an arrangement that lasted less than a year. Caracalla lured Geta to a supposed reconciliation meeting arranged by their mother Julia Domna, where he was murdered in her arms. An immediate and thorough damnatio memoriae was applied: his name was erased from inscriptions, his portrait over-struck on coins, and the mere mention of his name made a capital offence.

The damnatio memoriae of Geta makes his unaltered coins inherently scarce and historically poignant. Defaced Geta coins (over-struck portraits, erased names) are extraordinary primary evidence for how the Roman state systematically attempted to erase a person from history. For collectors, they document both the original issue and its violent suppression.

Key Events

198 AD Elevated to Caesar by his father Septimius Severus

209 AD Promoted to co-Augustus; effectively equal co-emperor with Caracalla

211 AD Death of Septimius Severus at York; Geta and Caracalla become co-emperors

211 AD Murdered by Caracalla, who then imposed damnatio memoriae across the empire

Coinage

Geta's coinage was struck in both his name as Caesar and briefly as Augustus. It follows the standard Severan style closely. After his damnatio memoriae, many of his coins were countermarked or had his portrait crudely re-engraved to show Caracalla or another figure. These 'defaced' Geta coins are of particular interest to specialists. Unaltered examples are correspondingly scarcer.

Denominations

Aureus Denarius Sestertius As

Notable Types

Coins as Caesar (P SEPT GETA CAES PONT)
Brief Augustus types (P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG)
Defaced/countermarked types after damnatio memoriae

Common Reverses

FELICITAS TEMPOR SECVRIT IMPERII PONTIF COS PIETAS PVBLICA

Active Mints

Rome Laodicea Eastern mint

Geta Coins

Key Events

Coinage

Related Resources

Further Reading