Finally picked up a real silver denarius of 7Sev. Nothing too special, but I've wanted one of these for a long time. Cost was around $30, which isn't good, isn't bad, but probably was a decent deal. I always liked those Mars reverses too. Previously I only had a limes denarius, which didn't really count in my book.
Nice coin. You can't go wrong for $30. Septimius Severus is very accessible. I seem to acquire his coins even though I'm not looking for them. Septimius Severus Denarius, 210-211 Rome. Silver, 2.21g. SEVERVS - PIVS AVG BRIT. VICTORIAE - BRIT (RIC IV 332). Celebrates Septimius Severus’s victories in Britain against the Caledonians and the Maeatae. The denarius was used to pay the soldiers, so spread the message of victory to the army.
Here's another Severus denarius featuring Neptune...probably commemorating his voyage to Britain. Unfortunately he grew ill and died at York, where he told his two sons..."Enrich the soldiers, ignore all others!" on his deathbed. Septimius Severus, A.R. Denarius, Rome mint, 210 C.E. 3.3 grams, 19.1 mm Obverse: Laureate head right, SEVERVS PIVS AVG Reverse: PMTRP XVIII COS III PP Neptune standing left, nude but for cloak over left shoulder and right arm, right foot on rock, right arm resting on right knee, trident vertical behind in left hand. ex @Sallent collection...
purdy nice for 30 (esp in these times)...the top one i've had for years, thinking it was a limes...till i checked it meself(1st pic)..the bottom one i got for around $30 awhile back..i wouldnt part with it for twice that now...
If you are fond of these Rome mint Mars coins, you might also like the similar type using the legend MARS PATER rather than the dating devices as on yours. They also come in sestertii. Like the denarii, having the legends on flan is an extra cost option. Having ALL of the letters sharp and clear with good surfaces and no wear is downright ridiculous in bronze. I have none.
I like this sentiment, haha. Nice coins though. I would prefer a MARS PATER vs COS XXXX as its a bit more interesting.
Nice one. My very first ancient of any type was a Septimius Severus denarius with a Mars (MARS PATER) reverse - I paid $35 in March, 1987. It is still one of my favorites: Septimius Severus Denarius (194-195 A.D.) Rome Mint L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IIII, laureate head right / MARS PATER, Mars walking right, holding spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder. RIC 46; RSC 311; BMCRE 84. (3.23 grams / 18 mm)
..i've read that 'limes' meant path in latin and it came to mean those garrisons on the outreach of the empire boundries (we've discussed this here before)..so really these coins , while made of less precious metals, were used as legal tender and pay to the troops stationed at them..so really, that's kind o neat i think
That’s really really neat. Makes practical sense, and the ones I’ve seen are as high quality, artistically as good silver ones. Probably used same die engravers too. Reminds me of military payment currency in the modern age
Rather than saying the green citrus fruit say lim-ace the plural of which is limites (li-mi-tace) or limits which is a border (city limits). https://www.collinsdictionary.com/u...: plural limites,boundary of the Roman Empire
