Caria, Stratonicaea, Caracalla (198 – 217 AD) with Geta (as Caesar 198 – 209 AD). struck circa 198 – 202 under prytanis (magistrate) Zosimos II, grandson of Posittos. Æ 39 mm. 21.9 gm. Obv: AY MAP AYΡ ANTΩNEINOC Λ CEΠ ΓETAC KAICAΡ, bareheaded and draped bust of Geta (erased) vis-à-vis laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla; two countermarks: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse. Rev: [ΠΡY] ZΩCIMOY ΔIC ΠOCITTOY CTΡATONIKIEΩN, Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback trotting right, holding scepter; at bottom right lighted altar. SNG Copenhagen 510 (same obverse die). Countermarks - Howgego 188 & 536. Very Rare.
VIDEO:Upon murdering his brother and co-emperor in 211 AD, Caracalla ordered a “damnatio memoriae” of Geta. Even the mention of Geta’s name was punishable by death! On this coin, Geta’s portrait and name were erased with a heated chisel or poker, and then the coin was countermarked (twice) to signify it as legal tender again. Stratonicaea’s thorough and unique effort to erase all images of Geta on its coinage was likely due to a planned imperial visit by Caracalla. See CNG Auction 126, lot 453 ($3,000 hammer) and Numismatik Naumann Auction 78, lot 631 (Euro 2,000 hammer) for similar examples. Rare type and extremely rare with almost full legends.