Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 1039. Estimate $250.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $230. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GETA, as Caesar. 198-209 AD. AR Denarius (3.32 gm). Struck 200 AD. L SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed and draped bust right, seen from behind / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising skirt. RIC IV 4 note; BMCRE 149 note; RSC 195. EF. Very rare obverse legend. ($250)

From the Marc Melcher Collection.

This obverse legend is only known from two specimens, that quoted by Cohen in the Bibliothèque Nationale, and one in the G. R. Arnold collection. It is apparently an irregular, transitional type, combining the praenomen 'L' from Geta's earliest legend with the latter form including 'PONT' that normally occurs with his praenomen 'P.' Additionally, both of the other two specimens have the same reverse as the present piece.