Geta, as Caesar, 198-209. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.00 g, 6 h), Rome, 206. P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta to right, seen from behind.
Rev. LAETITIA / TEMPORVM Galley under sail in center of Circus Maximus; above, four quadrigae galloping to left; below, wild animals, among them ostrich, two lions chasing wild donkey, bull and bear. BMC 453. Cohen 67. RIC 43. Rare. A beautiful example, well struck and with excellent details. Very minor flan fault on the obverse
, otherwise, extremely fine.
From the collection of a maître cuisinier, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 114, 6 May 2019, 773.
The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus, which Cassius Dio, though referring to an earlier event, describes in detail: 'The entire receptacle in the amphitheatre had been constructed so as to resemble a boat in shape, and was capable of receiving or discharging four hundred beasts at once; and then, as it suddenly fell apart, there came rushing forth bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses, bisons [...] so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.' (Cass. Dio 77.1.4-5).
