Joyful arrival of the Emperor

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Sulla80, Dec 2, 2023.

  1. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    I was pleased to pick up this early coin of Septimius Severus, from his first arrival in Rome as emperor - there is more to that story. I've posted my notes here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/joyful-arrival-of-the-emperor
    upload_2023-12-3_11-50-27.png
    Septimius Severus, 193-211, AR denarius (19 mm, 3.52g, 6h), Rome, AD 196.
    Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right.
    Rev: ADVENTVI AVG FELICISSIMO Septimius Severus on horseback to right, raising his right hand in salute.
    Ref: BMC 151. Cohen 6. RIC 74.

    upload_2023-12-3_11-49-47.png

    Please post any ADVENTVS types (proclaiming the arrival of the emperor), early coins of Septimius Severus or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2023
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  3. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  4. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Thanks, @Bing, I always enjoy when coins come together to tell a story, and especially when a coin like my latest, "ADVENTVI AVG FELICISSIMO", can be linked with a narrow time windows and specific historical events. Although I didn't see it on @Valentinian's website - I think this reverse legend "ADVENTVI AVG FELICISSIMO" is unique to Septimius Severus. The ADVENTVS coin page on augustuscoins is worth a visit too: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/PROFECTIO/ADVENTVS.html
     
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  5. Curtis

    Curtis Well-Known Member

    Good post and nice run of Denarii. Esty's page on this topic is also very useful. I referred to it several times when trying to figure something out having to with these types.

    It can be hard to find those Septimius Denarii with complete legends. At one point I had several ADVENTI- and PROFECTIO types, but most had weak legends or undersized flans.

    expandable thumbnails showing a few for the curious:
    VAuctions Group Lot 285-172 Septimius Severus Horseback PROFECTIO AR Denarius X5.jpg Septimius Profectio Denarius.jpg 108 septimius severus denarius horse adventi.jpg Septimius-severus-adventi-denarius.jpg

    I've got some others from the mid 3rd century (a couple Philip I, Trajan Decius, several Probus, possibly others).
    Trajan Decius AR Antoninianus ADVENTVS AVG Kolner 112, 509.png Philip I AR Antoninianus ADVENTVS AVGG Naville 73, 585.jpg

    But my favorite ADVENTVS AVG is this Constantine I (London, c. 311/2 CE):
    Constantine ADVENTVS DiMarzio Toone Tags jpg.jpg

    Not the most beautiful, but rare-ish, and it fits two of my favorite sub-collections:

    The ADVENTVS type with captive underfoot of the horse was popularized by Probus. (I think the imagery had been used before, e.g., by Septimius Severus, but I can't recall if Septimius had ADVENTVS types with captive beneath the horse's hoof.)

    Probus, Siscia, c. 276-282 CE. ADVENTVS PROBI AVG with bound captive beneath horse. Very similar imagery to Constantine's above, so I'm assuming that imagery was modeled on these, struck 30 years earlier:
    Probus (RIC 632) ADVENTVS PROBI AVG horseback captive CNG 483 858.jpg

    Rome, 281 CE, ADVENTVS AVG. Same imagery:
    Themis 6 Probus ADVENTVS Rome.jpg
     
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  6. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Great coins @Curtis, I can see why you would pick Constantine as favorite!

    I don't think Severus had captives underfoot in his Adventus coins, but Aurelian certainly did. I forgot that I also have this ADVENT AVGG from Septimius with soldier restraining the emperors horse. Sear notes (as does @Valentinian) that this coin is linked to his return to Rome in 202 AD. He returned after time spent in the east turning back the Parthians from Mesopotamia, and ultimately annexing Mesopotamia for the Empire. Septimius Adventus Avg.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2023
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  7. Curtis

    Curtis Well-Known Member

    I don't have one -- but that is my favorite of the Septimius ADVENTVS types. Very interesting scene, a bit reminiscent of some of the Tarentum staters (e.g., types crowing horse or restraining horse -- both, incidentally, also with the horse-rider left and standing figure to left, though the scarcer Vlasto 527ff. is to right).

    Minor distinction: I see Aurelian ADVENTVS types that show him spearing fallen enemies but I haven't found any examples with a captive: https://ric.mom.fr/en/search/quicksearch?q=aurelianus+adventvs+enemy&mod=result

    OCRE, however, does mention an Aurelian ADVENTVS type with "seated captive" (sounds like the Probus image):
    RIC V Aurelian 43 (but no examples; I don't have a copy of RIC V).

    I don't see that type in the new RIC V online, so I'm very curious if there are actually examples out there somewhere? (I find 13 ADVENTVS varieties for Aurelian in the new RIC Online, 1 Aureus, 2 AV Multiples, 1 "Sestertius", Ants; 1 spurious result.)
     
  8. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    Just have this one, and it is not in good condition.

    Minted at the arrival of the emperor Hadrian in Rome on July 9, 118 AD. On this day Hadrian entered the city of Rome, eleven months after his succession to Trajan.

    Æ Dupondius, Rome, 118 AD
    26 x 27 mm, 12.405 g

    RIC II Hadrian 554, Sear 3654; RSC 92, BMCRE 1138;

    Ob.: IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG Radiate head right with drapery on left shoulder
    REv.: PONT MAX TR POT COS II Roma helmeted seated to r. on cuirass holding spear in l. hand clasping r. hand with Hadrian who stands togate to l. In exergue ADVENTVS AVG S C

    upload_2023-12-2_19-22-4.png


    upload_2023-12-2_19-23-4.png
     
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  9. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Agree with you on AURELIAN - not "captive" - there is another rare option pre-PROBUS that I can't verify:Gallienus:
    http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.5.gall(2).551
    Captive not visible in this example from ACSEarch/Nomos although it is claimed in the online description for both Nomos and RIC:
    upload_2023-12-2_20-23-19.png
    At any rate - apparently it was not a type of any consequence until Probus.
    see these 200+ coins at ACSearch ADVENTVS (excluding Gallus, Constantine, Decius, Probus, Philip, Severus) not much there....
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2023
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  10. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    A nice coin (even if not great condition) @cmezner, thanks for posting.
     
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