Geta, as Caesar, 198-209. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.38 g, 12 h), Rome, 199. P SEPT GETA CAES PONT Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to right, seen from behind. Rev. PRINC IVVENT Geta, as prince of the youth, standing front in military attire, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and inverted spear in his left. BMC 232. Cohen 159. RIC 15b. A lightly toned example with a charming portrait and a very old pedigree. Struck from a worn reverse die, otherwise, very fine.


Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750) was a Venetian librettist and humanist who worked as poet laureate in Vienna in 1715-1729, where he also curated the imperial coin collection of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740). His collection was preserved for more than two-hundred years, until eventually being sold by Dorotheum in 1955, thus forming one of the oldest and most celebrated pedigrees in ancient numismatics.