Geta, 209-211. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 33 mm, 26.00 g, 12 h), Rome, 211. P SEPTIMIVS GETA PIVS AVG BRIT Laureate head of Geta to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. VICT BRIT TR P III COS II / S C Victory seated to right on cuirass, inscribing shield set on her left knee with her right hand; on ground to left, oblong shield; under feet and to right, two oblong shields and a helmet. BMC 268. Cohen 210. RIC 172b. A beautiful piece struck on a very broad flan and with an absolutely delightful lime green patina. Light doubling and with a thin flan crack, otherwise, extremely fine.
This beautiful sestertius celebrates the Severan invasion of Scotland in 208-211, in the course of which Septimius Severus reportedly reached the northern tip of the British Isles. While this is almost certainly an exaggeration, the Romans indeed won several victories against the Caledones and Maeatae. Eventually, however, the heavy resistance of the local population and the difficult terrain caused the Roman forces to dwindle away, and when Septimius died in York on 4 February 211, the legions withdrew to the reinforced vallum Hadriani.