SA's Anniversary Giveaway: 4 coins up for grabs!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Severus Alexander, Jan 21, 2018.

  1. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    A year ago today I joined Coin Talk, and boy, has it been a fun year! Time to show my appreciation for all of you by giving something back.

    To enter the contest, all you have to do is post your favourite Severus Alexander(s) in this thread. They don't have to be yours... for those who don't have one (or aren't satisfied with theirs!), feel free to link another image. I hope to see at least one Coliseum! I especially like dupondii and asses, so you get brownie points for posting those. :)

    Winners will be entered into a draw to win one of the four coins pictured below, a couple of Romans and a couple more obscure items. You get to choose your coin in the order your name is drawn. If you like, you can assign your choice to another member. (So no posting an SA coin and saying you don't want to be in the draw!)

    Screen Shot 2018-01-20 at 8.37.52 PM.jpg
    Kushan: Vima Takto (80-90 CE), AE tetradrachm. Bust of Vima Takto (Soter Megas) right, tamgha in left field / King on horseback right, tamgha in right field.
    Historical context: Because they left no written records, not much is known of the Kushan emperors. They were descendants of the Yueh-zhi steppe nomads (and practitioners of skull deformation) who were pushed out of the environs of China, and ultimately ruled a mighty empire covering much of Bactria, Afghanistan, and northern India. Vima Takto was the grandfather of the great patron of Buddhism, Kanishka.

    Screen Shot 2018-01-21 at 10.07.13 AM.jpg
    Aurelian (270-275), AE denarius. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right. / VICTORIA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm; at foot, captive. RIC 73. One of the last issues of this important denomination!

    Screen Shot 2018-01-21 at 10.52.39 AM.jpg
    Licinius I (308-324). Æ Follis, Siscia, issued 315-6. Laureate head r. / Jupiter standing l., holding globe surmounted by Victory, leaning on sceptre; eagle with wreath standing to l.; A//•SIS•. RIC VII 17.

    Screen Shot 2018-01-20 at 8.35.34 PM.jpg
    Bukhar-Hudat in the name of al-Mahdi (775-85). Obv: In front of the face Sogdian legend - "King of Bukhara", behind the head Arabic inscription "al-Mahdi". Bust in Sassanian-style right, above crown is crescent with dot. Rev: Fire altar with ribbons and attendants, crowned bust right in flames.
    Historical context: Issued by the Turco-Hephthalite lords of Bukhara, the "Bukhar-Hudat", in the name of the Abbasid caliph al-Mahdhi. Earlier in the 8th century, the Bukhar-Hudat had been ousted from power by a rebellion, but were restored by the Arab commander Kuteyba, likely because they had agreed to convert to Islam and accepted the Abbasids as overlords. This coin was issued by the final Bukhar-Hudat: the Arabs killed the last ruler in 783 in Varakhsha palace for supporting a revolt by Mukanna.

    Hopefully there is at least one coin there that is of interest to you! As the thread peters out I'll announce a closing time, but I imagine you have at least a couple of days. So... let's see those Severus Alexanders!
     
    Pellinore, Andres2, Cucumbor and 18 others like this.
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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Happy Anniversary, Sevvy! You have definitely added cool coins, knowledge, and fun to this board :)

    I'm entering but if I win I'll pick someone else to receive the coin.

    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander
    year 12, CE 232/3
    tetradrachm, 23 mm, 13.87 gm
    Obv: AKAIMAAVPCEVAΛEΞANΔPOCEV; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: Alexandria standing facing, head left, holding vexillum and grain ears; palm frond to left, L IB (date) to right
    Ref: Emmett 3088.12 (R4); Köln 2474 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 4264; K&G 62.172 var. (same)

    Okie dokie... here's @AncientJoe's colosseum of Severus Alexander Gordian III. Close enough? :oops: :D

    p6053900_1951276107_4.jpg
    Gordian III
    AD 238-244
    Æ Medallion (37mm, 47.82 g, 12h)
    Rome mint, 4th officina. Special emission, AD 244
    Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: MVNIFICENTIA GORDIANI AVG, Colosseum: within, bull on left fighting elephant on right; to left, Fortuna standing facing behind the Meta Sudans, her head left and holding rudder; to right, statue within small temple or shrine
    Ref: Gnecchi II 23 (pl. 104, no. 6); Banti 54.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2018
  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Here's my favorite Severus Alexander, but I'm going to give my chance in the drawing to @LaCointessa .

    Severus Alexander Libertas Sestertius.jpg
    Severus Alexander, AD 222-235
    Roman Æ sestertius; 21.72 gm, 28.4 mm
    Rome, AD 229
    Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder
    Rev: P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter
    Refs: RIC 492; BMCRE 570; Cohen 372; RCV 7996.
     
  5. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Well, I'd really like to win a contest but since I own no as or dupondius and have an aversion to posting other people's photos, I'll start in the hole with a coin I doubt many people have. This thing cost me $5 a few years back (OK, before some here were born) but most people would not want it today which is good because I do. I was proud to have been able to ID it in the junk from which it came. The obverse reads M AVR AΛE ΞΑΝΔΡΟC and the reverse O ΔHCCEITΩ //N
    pn1830bb1222.jpg
    Odessos, Thrace. AE15 / Alexander on horseback, 222 AD 2.0g
    What make the coin interesting is what is not on it. The head is bare. There is no abbreviation for Severus. There is no title. We sometimes call these little coins assaria so I can try for the extra credit but the real interest in this little Provincial is that it was struck while Alexander was Caesar under Elagabalus. This nice coin was sold by Helios.
    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=814601
     
  7. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    panzerman likes this.
  8. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    Severus Alexander denarius
    Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right
    Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield
    Minted in Rome, A.D. 232
    References:– RIC 246, RSC 161a

    This was my first ancient coin and is still one of my favourites.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I like the Aurelian Denarius.

    My favorite denarius.

    [​IMG]
    Severus Alexander (222 - 235 A.D.)
    AR Denarius
    O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    R: PM TR P XIIII COS III PP, Sol walking left holding whip and raising hand.
    Rome Mint, January–February/March, 235 A.D.
    2.8g
    19mm
    RIC125

    Minted in the last few months of his reign!

    One of my better Tets of his.

    [​IMG]
    Severus Alexander (222 - 235 A.D.)
    Billon Tetradrachm
    EGYPT, ALEXANDRIA
    O: A KAI MAR AUR SEUHR - ALEXANDROS - EUSEB, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
    R: Athena Nikephoros seated left on throne, holding scepter; LE (date) to left, shield below.
    22mm
    12.4g
    G. 2427; Dattari 4286
     
  10. ValiantKnight

    ValiantKnight Well-Known Member

    I definitely like this one. Whoever they are, the owner must have good taste! :D

    [​IMG]

    If money was no issue and I wanted an SA, it would probably be this one (and the coliseum aureus as well, but a coliseum coin has already been posted):

    RIC_0051ADD.jpg
     
  11. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Wow! I still have 11months to hit my year mark. Ok you asked for it...
    SevAlexColessum2.jpg
    Sev A with a beautiful patina and even more beautiful colosseum...but on account of it not being my own, here are also my 3 Severus Alexanders with one domineering Julia Mamaea to tell them how to run the empire.
    20180121_131819.jpg 20180121_132039.jpg
     
  12. pirgah

    pirgah Member

    Unfortunately I have no Severus coin nor the one I´m posting. But to me is a great example of an ancient uncirculated coin. Constantinus Follis Syscia. What a beauty. Constantinus.jpg
     
  13. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That's a very interesting coin, @dougsmit !
     
    Severus Alexander, Ryro and panzerman like this.
  14. Nathan401

    Nathan401 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

  15. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    For those wanting to know more about the boy who ruled the world I have pasted a part of a really informative, albeit brief, write up on him. (Below is the link of you want to read more about SA and the colosseum).
    Severus Alexander
    [​IMG]
    222-235 AD

    Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was originally named Alexianus. He was born about 208 AD. Alexander was the son of Julia Mamaea and Gessius Marcianus. At the insistence of his grandmother, Julia Maesa, Severus was adopted by his cousin and was adopted by his cousin Elagabalus in 221 AD making him the legal heir to the throne. Simultaneously, Severus was raised to the rank of Caesar. After the murder of Elagabalus, Alexander was acknowledged as Emperor by the Praetorian guards by the insistence of his grandmother Julia Maesa. The Senate confirmed his position the following day.

    [​IMG]

    Under the rule of Severus Alexander, the empire seemed to recover. The economic condition of the state was greatly improved. The above illustration is a bronze sesterius announcing the restoration of the Colosseum as one of his public work projects. However, it is during his reign that the first movements of a new enemy were to begin – the Goths. Over the next 50 years, the Goths would devastate much of the Roman Empire driving deep into the Eastern provinces.
    [​IMG]Herodian tells us that Severus was completely dominated by his mother, Julia Mamaea. Like many of the women from the Severian dynasty, a dominating personality seems to be a strong trait. Herodian went on to remark that Severus “did exactly as he was told. This was the one thing for which he can be faulted; that he obeyed his mother in matters of which he disapproved because he was over-mild and showed greater respect to her than he should have done” Indeed, this problem of being ruled by his mother created much resentment among the army – a factor that no doubt cast his own fate.

    While the first nine years of Alexander’s reign were peaceful and free from foreign wars, that situation began to change in 232 AD. Alexander was forced to take to the field against the Sassanid Ardashir who had recently overthrown the Arsacid kingdom of Parthia. Ardashir began to threaten Syria and Cappadocia – key northern African territories. Alexander’s campaign against Ardashir met with only limited success. Alexander was soon forced to return to the West where disturbances on the German frontier required his presence. Before the fighting actually began, the soldiers rebelled proclaiming the commander,Maximinus, Emperor. Alexander and Julia Mamaea were both murdered at their camp near Mainz on March 22nd, 235 AD.
    https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/...-severan-dynasty/severus-alexander-222-235ad/
     
  16. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Congrats :D
    3 021.JPG
    Severus Alexander AE Sestertius. 235 AD. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XIIII COS III PP S C, Sol walking left, holding whip and raising right hand, cloak billowing out behind. RIC IV 541; BMCRE 964; Cohen 457 22.3 g
     
  17. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Congratulations on the anniversary @Severus Alexander !

    So assuming that we are able to suspend disbelief in terms of picking a coin that we could actually never have the ability to own I would pick the below medallion (reverse shown).
    Severus_Alexander_Medallion.PNG
    This medallion is in the coin cabinet of France (which doesn't support searching by type) and is the only one of its kind know. I couldn't even find a photo of this coin, only illustrations. It is mentioned in Cohen and RIC.

    It shows Severus Alexander being crowned by victory and trampling the personifications of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers underfoot.

    So why is it interesting? It is one of the only known numismatic references to the very first confrontation between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire of Persia which had just overthrown the Parthians under Adeshir I. Severus Alexander claimed victory and celebrated a triumph. This coin foreshadows the epic struggle that would rage for the next 400 years between the two powers.

    ...................................​

    So as always when I enter a CT contest if I win I will pledge to value the coin and do a coin giveaway game of my own to pay it forward. Thanks again SA. Very cool.
     
  18. ycon

    ycon Renaissance Man

    I don't have any coins of Severus Alexander, but I would want one of his coins as Caesar. This denarius is especially appealing to me because it shows some of the traditional implements of Roman religion, already positioning him as a potential alternative to the throne, in contrast to Elagabalus and his radical religious changes.

    thumb00280.jpg

    Severus Alexander, as Caesar, 221-222. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.16 g, 6 h), Rome. M AVR ALEXANDER CAES Bare-headed and draped bust of Severus Alexander to right, seen from behind. Rev. PIETAS AVG Jug between lituus and knife on left and simpulum and sprinkler on right. BMC 266. Cohen 198. RIC 3. Rare and in unusually nice condition for the issue. Extremely fine.

    https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotv...&Lot=280&Val=a0e1c9c1f9462a4c79e994d18aacb6ff

    In contrast to that here is my Elagabalus denarius, with him in the guise of high priest to Elagabal. 171014023bz.jpg
    Denarius 218-222 Elagabalus. EF Denarius 221 Obv. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Draped, laureate bust r. with horn. r. // PM TR P IIII COS III P P. Elagabalus making an offering, star in field l. Selten. RIC 46, BMC 256, Cohen 196, Kampmann 56.43.4. 3,02 g.
     
  19. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Hmm. That's a great observation and a very good reason for me to get one of this type :). Thanks for the idea!
     
  20. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Wow that year went fast, looking forward to another year of great posts and coins, as you have this year. :watching:
     
    Severus Alexander and Ryro like this.
  21. ValiantKnight

    ValiantKnight Well-Known Member

    Its not SA (I dont have a coin of him) but its still a Severus, and I know how much you like this one @Severus Alexander so I'll post it here.

    Libius Severus, Western Roman Empire
    AE nummus
    Obv: D N LIBIVS SEVERVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right
    Rev: Monogram of Ricimer within wreath
    Mint: Rome
    Date: 461-467 AD (Libius Severus reigned 461-465 AD)
    Ref: RIC X 2715

    [​IMG]

    To think, around 10 to 15 years after this was struck the Roman Empire in the west would be no more.
     
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