Featured OTD: 211 CE, Septimius Severus dies. Take a shot if you hail to the warrior King

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ryro, Feb 4, 2020.

  1. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    On this date: Preparing for his Scottish campaign, while in Eboracum (York), Septimius Severus dies!

    upload_2020-2-4_18-45-4.jpeg

    Say what you will about his negatives, and there's plenty to say, but this guy didn't just run the empire. It was a better and safer place then when he'd taken over... Until he died, that is.
    The legacy he left behind would've been incredible had Geta gotten to Caracalla first.
    upload_2020-2-4_19-6-9.jpeg
    (Classic tondo showcasing a straight up Geta damnation)

    Instead, a conversation about the man consists of how he took the world by sheer will and force alone, how awesome his wife was and thenhow awful his son was.
    Ol' Septy, as he would have us call him;), consolidated and dominated. And yet despite his son issuing one if the largest citizenship rights decrees of all time, due to his utter lunacy, his sons reputation in many ways has tarnished his reputation.
    Enough said about that. Here's to the man. The man that headed Pesky Niger off at the pass and con'd Albinus into complacency.

    F4484A09-A2CF-417E-90F2-A667C035E401.jpeg

    A wife so nice her coins portray Venus and friends... From some pretty fun angles: 0E3F6992-8E5D-4984-B493-9416A734FDC1.png D3D57D17-3BB8-417F-872B-0B705008FA41.png FB3C6169-A156-4E4E-8528-A6CAB8B8D5D4.png 5EA0AF37-31BE-4173-8613-57AAA91C8ADA.jpeg

    Those rascaly sons

    15B37BA8-6A06-4A37-9687-B7C47C1CF3BB.png
    4D1460B4-2D4C-4917-9585-775AAA5CFD7B.jpeg
    And of course, the man of the hour himself on his death date... Sheptimius Severus!!!

    7C2A8923-6F5D-49E2-A918-78EA0D29E64B.png
    I know you all have some amazing coins of the man and his fam. Please share your favorite Sheptimius Shevs and co, favorite stories or whatever enriches your soldiers!
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    RIP, Seppy! Thanks for leaving us all those great coins :D.

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus
    Rome, CE 206
    AR denarius, 3.41 gm, 20 mm, 12h
    Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
    Rev: LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina's other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and a bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison
    Ref: RIC 274; BMC 343.
    ex Colosseo Collection
     
  4. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ...to the man.. his history and his coins... Sept. Severus AR denarius...and family 001.JPG Sept. Severus AR denarius...and family 002.JPG
     
  5. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    6BDFF1B6-90F4-44B1-ADC8-69EB9EB4D411.jpeg
    Septimius Severus, AR Denarius, 200-201 AD, (19mm., 3.23g), Laureate head of Septimius right/Rev. RESTITVTOR ORBIS, Severus standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod and holding spear. RIC 167.
     
  6. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I'm happy to raise a glass in Seppy's memory!

    Here's my latest issue for him, c. 210-211, a VICTORIAE BRITTANNICAE as, though a bit light on the VICTORIAE bit...

    Screen Shot 2020-02-04 at 7.55.58 PM.jpg
     
  7. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    No. I have shown the favorites so many times that everyone has seen them to excess. Instead I'll post things more appropriate (posthumous).
    rj4750bb0303.jpg rj4755fd2939.jpg

    Odessus, Thrace AE25 - Posthumous Provincials are unusual. I know another of our members also has one of these. pi0740bb0923.jpg
     
  9. Salaethus

    Salaethus Well-Known Member

    "On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his coming to power Severus presented to the entire populace that received the grain dole and to the soldiers of the praetorian guard gold pieces equal in number to the years of his reign. He prided himself especially on this largess, and, in fact, no emperor had ever before given so much to the whole population at once; the total amount spent for the purpose was two hundred million sesterces."
    - Cassius Dio

    In 208 AD, Septimius Severus waged a military campaign against the Caledonians in northern Britain, bringing with him a sizable retinue of the imperial court, as well as his sons; now young adults, Caracalla and Geta. The northern British tribes had become warlike and action became necessary; Septimius may have also hoped to bond his quarrelsome sons through the shared rigors and austerity of a military campaign, as well as to mobilize a number of inactive and problematic legions. Due to his father's illness, Caracalla took the lead in managing military operations throughout most of the campaign, while Geta took on administrative duties at the campaign base camp at Eboracum (modern day York). By 210, coins were struck in the names of all three family members celebrating their British successes. On the 4th of February 211 AD, Septimius (by now in his mid 60s) succumbed to his illness, and soon afterward, Caracalla ended the fighting by negotiating a peace with the Caledonians.

    Just 11 months later, on the 26th of December 211 AD, Caracalla infamously had his younger brother murdered. The two brothers, only 11 months apart in age, fostered an intense sibling rivalry, and that manifested into a factional power struggle shortly after their father's death and their assumption of co-rule. While Geta had been raised as Augustus in 209 AD, he was only nominally the equal to his older brother, who had been raised as Augustus more than 10 years earlier in 198 AD. According to Cassius Dio, the imperial palace was walled off and split in two, there were talks of splitting the empire, and the two Augusti, ever at odds with one another, found themselves challenging each other at every turn. Geta, perceiving the danger he was in, surrounded himself with soldiers to guard him day and night. Thus, in a plot to get his brother to lower his guard, Caracalla had their mother, Julia Domna, summon Geta unattended to what they believed was to be a conciliatory meeting between the two emperors. Caracalla, however, had laid several of his centurions in wait, and as Geta arrived, they rushed upon him and slew him as he clung to his mother, crying out for mercy. Thereafter Caracalla went to the legions which were loyal to both of the brothers, and with feigned lament, claimed that he had survived a terrible and brazen assassination attempt concocted by his brother, and that Geta's killing was as such a righteous act of self defense! He also promised the soldiers great donatives at this time. Subsequently, Caracalla ordered a purge and mass murder of thousands of Geta's supporters in Rome and throughout the empire, as well as a thorough damnatio memoriae of his ill-fated brother's images and memory. 1. Septimius Severus.jpg
    2. Caracalla.jpg 3. Geta.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
  10. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I have two of the three.
    Caracalla
    Caracalla1325.jpg
    Rome Mint, A.D. 210-213
    Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS - AVG BRIT.
    Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT - Victory, advancing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm branch in left.
    RIC 231. 19 mm, 2.6 g.

    Geta
    Geta4854.jpg
    Rome Mint, A.D. 210-212
    Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS - AVG BRIT.
    Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT - Victory, standing, facing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm branch in left.
    RIC 92. 19 mm, 3.1 g.
     
  11. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Excellent choices! So glad to see some new (too my eyes) Septys from your massive collection of the great ruler. I really like how the wisdom of his years is portrayed on these posthumous issues. And the fantastic beard of course.
    Also, I got a kick out of the simple, "No." Response. For some reason it reminded me of this David's Lynch interview:
    upload_2020-2-5_5-29-56.jpeg
     
  12. Salaethus

    Salaethus Well-Known Member

    Is it plausible that two million aureii were given out to the Roman populace / the praetorian guard? (each gold coin, presumably an aureus, was worth 100 sestertii)
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
    Ryro likes this.
  13. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Here's a song for Shep...



    03 Septimius Severus - Den Ship Circus.jpg
    SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
    AR Denarius. 3.66g, 20.4mm. Rome mint, AD 202. RIC 274; RSC 253. O: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: LAETITIA above, TEMPORVM below, ship with mast and sail in center of circus; above, four quadrigae driven left; below, ostrich, lion, zebra, bear and stag right, bull butting left, bear right, head left.

    Julia Domna - Denarius Caracalla & Geta 2019New 2576.jpg JULIA DOMNA
    AR Denarius. 3.0g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 201. RIC 540; Vagi 1723; BMC 4. O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; hair elaborately waved. R: AETERNIT IMPERI, laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right, vis-à-vis bareheaded and draped bust of Geta left.
    Ex Dr. Walter Neussel Collection
     
  14. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Septimius Severus:

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
    Roman AR Denarius, 3.20 g, 17 mm. A.D.
    Rome Mint, AD 194.
    Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, laureate head, right.
    Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Liber standing facing, head left, cloak over left shoulder, holding oenochoe and thyrsus; at feet left, panther standing left, catching drips from the jug.
    Refs: RIC 32; BMCRE 64-65; Cohen 301; RCV 6307; Hill 84.

    Caracalla looking like a brute:

    Caracalla INDVLG FECVNDAE Denarius.jpg
    Caracalla AD 198-217.
    Roman AR Denarius 3.37 g, 19.7 mm.
    Rome mint, AD 211.
    Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head, right.
    Rev: INDVLG FECVNDAE, Julia Domna as Indulgentia, wearing polos, seated left on cerule chair, extending right hand and holding scepter.
    Refs: RIC 214; BMCRE 73; RCV 6805.

    Geta as a thirteen-year-old:

    [​IMG]
    Geta as Caesar.
    AR denarius, 3.24 gm, 18.3 mm.
    Rome, AD 202.
    Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
    Rev: SECVRIT IMPERII, Securitas enthroned l., holding globe.
    Refs: RIC-20; BMC-240; Cohen-183; Sear-7200; Hill-553.
     
  15. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice coins. I have some cheap-o Severans I've picked up lately that I now have an excuse to post:

    I think this is just cute as a button:

    Sept. Severus - Phiiopolis AE grapes Jan 2020 (0).jpg

    Septimius Severus Æ 17
    (193-211 A.D.)
    Thrace, Philippopolis

    AV KAI CEYHΡOC, laureate head right / ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN, bunch
    of grapes on small stem.
    Varbanov 1261; SNG Cop 777; Moushmov 5254.
    (4.43 grams / 17 mm)

    Here is what five bucks can sometimes buy you - chipped flan and I think it is crystalizing internally - but I thought the artwork was pretty spiffy. I'll try not to drop it!
    Sept Severus - Den REP VRBIS Dec 2019 (0).jpg
    Septimius Severus Denarius
    (200-201 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, laureate head right /RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Severus
    in military dress sacrificing over lighted tripod, patera in right hand, sceptre in left.
    RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMC 202
    (2.00 grams / 18 mm)

    Here's the Mrs.:

    Julia Domna - Den. Pudicita Jan 2020 (0).jpg
    Julia Domna Denarius
    (196-211 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / PVDICITIA, Pudicitia seated left, veiled and right hand on breast; left arm at side.
    RIC 576; RSC 168.
    (2.97 grams / 18 x 16 mm)

    Here's the Mrs. again, sestertius version. I am inexcusably crazy about this one - all those colors, that baleful eye despite all the wear!

    Julia Domna - Sest. Venus Serbia Lot Jan 2020 (0).jpg

    Julia Domna Æ Sestertius
    (207-211 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    [IVLI]A AVGVSTA, draped bust right / [VENVS FELI]X S C, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and raising a fold of drapery.
    RIC IV 866; BMCRE 775.
    (20.49 grams / 29 mm)
     
  16. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    Well I like Seppy's coins a lot, and to celebrate his birthday, here is a little smörgåsbord from my collection:

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Liber.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 194 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Bacchus (Liber), wreathed, naked except for cloak over left arm, emptying oenochoe in r. hand over panther, and holding garlanded thyrsus in l. hand 17.5mm, 2.53g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 32.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Apollo.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 194–195 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [L SEPT SEV PERT] AVG IMP IIII, laureate head of Septimius Severus r. Rev: APOLL[INI AVGV]STO, Apollo standing l., holding patera and lyre. 16mm, 1.78g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 40.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, Denar, Minerva.jpg
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 195 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP V; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: P M TR P III COS II P P; Minerva, helmeted, draped to feet, standing l., holding spear downward in r. hand and round shield at side in l. hand. 18mm, 3.15g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 61. Ex AMCC 2, lot 451 (their picture).

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Hercules.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 196–197 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [L SEP S]EV PERT AVG IMP VI[II]; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: HERCV[LI DEF]ENS; Hercules standing r., leaning on club and holding bow, draped with lion skin. 16mm, 3.10g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 79.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Annona.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 197–198 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP X, laureate head of Septimius Severus r. Rev: ANNONAE AVG, Annona standing l., holding grain ears and cornucopia, foot on prow. 17mm, 2.61g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 107.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Dea Caelestis.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 202–210 AD, Rome mint. Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: INDVLGENTIA AVGG IN CARTH; Dea Caelestis, draped, riding r. on lion, holding thunderbolt in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand; below, water gushing from rock. 19mm, 3.32g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 266. Ex Marc Breitsprecher; ex Secret Saturn 2019.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, Denar, Emesa, Moneta.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 194–195 AD, Emesa mint. Obv: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: MONET AVG; Moneta, draped, standing l., holding scales in extended r. hand and cornucopiae in l. hand. 18mm, 3.32g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 411A.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, denar, Mars, eastern mint.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 198–202 AD, Antiochia mint (previously attributed to Laodicea ad mare). Obv: L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: MARTI [VICTO]RI; Mars, helmeted, in military attire, standing r., resting r. hand on shield and holding reversed spear in l. hand. 19mm, 3.01g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 508.

    Rom – Septimius Severus, sestertius, Felicitas.png
    Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AE sestertius, 195–196 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SE[V P]ERT AVG IMP VII; 29.5mm, bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, with drapery on l. shoulder, r. Rev: [DIVI] M PII F [P M] TR P III COS II P P; Felicitas, draped, standing l., foot on prow, holding caduceus in r, hand and cornucopiae in l. hand. 29.5mm, 20.23g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 701b.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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  17. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..O i LOVE that one..:)
     
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  18. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Some wonderful coins being shown.....
    Here's my happy family photo...
    family.jpg
    Also some snaps of his home town...
    Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna Birthplace of Septimius Severus

    Leptis Magna was enlarged and embellished by Septimius Severus, who was born there and later became emperor. It was one of the most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire, with its imposing public monuments, harbour, market-place, storehouses, shops and residential districts.A real "wow" place,if your interested have a look on its web-page.This has got to be the most well preserved Roman city outside of Rome itself.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  19. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Some coins of Septimius Severus and his family.

    1. Septimius Severus AR Denarius 198 AD, Laodicea Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, L SEP SEVERVS PER - AVG P M IMP XI/ Rev. Victory advancing left, holding wreath & palm branch, VICT AVGG COS II P P. RIC IV-1 499, RSC III 695, Sear RCV II 6370. 19.29 mm., 3.15 g.

    Septimius Severus.jpg

    2. Julia Domna AR Denarius 208 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA AVGVSTA/ Rev. Hilaritas standing left holding palm branch & cornucopiae, two naked children at her feet, HILA-RITAS. RIC IV-1 557, RSC III 79, Sear RCV II 6587. 19.39 mm, 3.25 g.

    Julia Domna - Hilaritas.jpg
    3. Geta Caesar AR Denarius 202 AD. Obv. As young boy, bare-headed, draped & cuirassed bust right, P SEPT GETA CAES PONT/ Rev. Securitas seated left on throne with globe, SECVRIT IMPERII. RIC IV-1 20b, RSC III 183A, Sear RCV II 7200. 18 mm., 3.17 g.

    Geta.jpg

    4. A youthful and rather innocent-looking Caracalla: Caracalla AR Denarius. Obv. Laureate, youthful draped bust right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG/ Rev. Felicitas standing left holding caduceus & cornucopiae, FELICITAS AVGG. RIC IV-1 127, RSC III 64, Sear RCV II 6799, BMCRE 276. 19 mm., 3.2 g.

    Caracalla - youthful.jpg

    5. An adult and very mean-looking Caracalla: Caracalla AR Denarius 210 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head of Caracalla right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT/ Rev. Virtus, helmeted, draped, standing right, left foot on helmet, holding spear in right hand and parazonium in left hand, PONTIF TR P XIII COS III. (Thirteenth anniversary as ordained heir.) RIC IV-1 117B, RSC III 478. 19 mm., 3.01 g.
    Caracalla - adult.jpg
    He's probably thinking about how much he'll enjoy having his brother whacked once Dad kicks off.

    6. Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) AR Denarius, 203 AD. Obv. PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust r./ Rev. PIETAS AVGG, Pietas standing r. holding scepter & child. RIC 367, RSC III 16. 20 mm., 3.4 g

    Plautilla.jpg
    (I will leave out Julia Domna's relatives -- the Julias Maesa, Soaemias, and Mamaea, Elagabalus and his wives, and Severus Alexander and his wife -- because I wouldn't necessarily consider them part of Septimius's immediate family.)
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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  20. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Hail Septimius !

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus, Denarius - Rome mint, AD 210
    SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT, Laureate head of Sevrus right
    VICTORIAE BRIT, Victory facing, holding palm and attaching shield to palm tree
    2.72 gr
    Ref : RCV #6384, Cohen #729

    This is the first Roman silver coin I ever bought, I'm afraid it was in 1983 !!

    Q
     
  21. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    Great thread. Warrior king? Now let’s not forget he’s the ummm... «founder of peace»:

    108E9B4A-6850-4B70-AD24-7B577B195B87.jpeg 7BAD8153-7251-45E0-9617-C1449D73905B.jpeg
     
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