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In 188 AD, Septimus Severus and Julia Domna became proud parents of their first child, Lucius Septimius Bassianus, better-known today by his nickname, Caracalla. For Severus, who was in his forties at the time, it was both a blessing and a relief to finally have a male heir. Equally joyous, Julia was pregnant again several months later, and in 189 AD gave birth to Publius Septimus Geta. The arrival of Geta into the world provided an insurance policy to secure Severus’ up-and-coming dynasty. However, it also provided a potentially dangerous sibling rivalry, a cultural norm dating to the very founding of Rome by the feuding brothers Romulus and Remus. Indeed, even from the very beginning Caracalla and Geta were seemingly not to be outdone by one another. Both remained healthy in their infancy, despite ancient Rome’s high neonatal mortality rate. And as the brothers developed, so did the competition between them.
The competitive stakes were significantly raised in 193 AD, the chaotic year of the five Emperors, the last of whom was Severus himself. For his own glory and for the Empire’s stability, it was important that Severus establish the new succession plan. To this end in 195 AD, Severus appointed Caracalla as Caesar and
priceps iuventutis (the first of youths). Two years later, having subdued all imperial contenders as well Rome’s key rival, namely Parthia, Severus promoted Caracalla to co-Emperor, and backfilled the Caesar position with Geta.
Caracalla’s status was advertised on coins struck throughout the Empire. This denarius, produced in Rome circa 201 AD, provides an example of Caracalla’s coinage struck during the period when he co-ruled with Severus, and Geta served as the imperial backup. The precise date is deduced from the reverse design: two captives seated left and right, mourning at the base of a tropaion adorned with armor and weaponry, encircled by the inscription PART MAX PONT TR P IIII. This remarkable scene conveys Caracalla’s multi-tasking as one of the greatest conquerors of the Parthians while also serving as high priest and holding tribunician power for the fourth time.
Around this time, Severus further boosted his imperial image with the new claim that he was the son of former Emperor Marcus Aurelius. For further emphasis, Caracalla was re-named as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, as evidenced in obverse inscription of this coin, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Yet a further indication of propagandistic intent, Caracalla’s portraiture from this period, including the obverse bust on this coin, resembles the young Marcus Aurelius. According to the reference cited below, there were two portrait types used to depict Caracalla during his youth, and this coin's style can be characterized as "Type 1”. Also worth noting for its similar propagandistic intent is Severus’ denarius within this NGC Custom Set, whose obverse depiction resembles portraiture of Augustus Marcus Aurelius as an adult.
Overall, the design of this coin – the charming depiction of the youthful Caracalla on the obverse combined with the strong military imagery on the verso – promises Rome a strong yet balanced future under the leadership of the Severan dynasty. Instead, the future path for Severus’ sons led to escalating discord and eventual fratricide.
Additional Reading: F Leitmeir, Between Tradition and Innovation: The Visual Representation of Severan Emperors, in: E. de Sena (ed.),
The Roman Empire during the Severan Dynasty. Case Studies in History, Art, Architecture, Economy and Literature, Gorgias Press, 2013, pp 465–492.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla, AD 198-217, AR Denarius (19mm, 3.55 g, 12h), Rome mint, Struck AD 201, NGC Grade: Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate and draped beardless young bust right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Reverse: Trophy; at base, bound captive seated at either side, PART MAX PONT TR P IIII, References: RIC IV 54b; RSC 175; BMCRE 262-3 (Septimius and Caracalla).