Septimius Severus Sestertius - Salus Seated left feeding snake coiled around alter and holding sceptre. RIC 747. Obverse inscription: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP X Reverse inscription: "SALUTI AVG PMTRP VI COS II PP" per RIC or "SALVTI AVG" SC Weight: 18.02 grams Size: 28mm The coin is much more blond than pictured but this shows the detail better than any photo I took with true color. This is a continuation of my postings on the fascinating "IMP X" sestertii of Septimius Severus, and shows the latest acquisition from a seller on Spanish ebay. Septimius Severus's tenth imperatorial acclimation came during the early part of his invasion of Parthia circa early 198 (I apologize but I do not have the exact date). As noted in Birley's "Septimius Severus The African Emperor", p. 129: "On arrival in Syria he (the emperor) immediately mustered his forces and crossed the Euphrates...Septimius pushed on to Nisibis, which Julius Laetus had managed to rescue. The Parthians withdrew before Septimius arrived. These successes may have led him to accept a new imperial acclamation, his tenth, before returning to Syria to prepare for a much more ambitious undertaking...His plan was now to attack the Parthian capital itself, in person, unlike Lucius Verus thirty years earlier, who had remained in Syria while his generals, above all Avidius Cassius, took Roman armies to the Tigris." Birley's book also contains a fascinating account of the Roman intra-empire communication system - but suffice to say that news of the tenth acclimation would likely have been brought to Rome in weeks not months. Coins of this series are usually found in worn condition and the coin pictured is typical. However, it is possible to see a vague impression of the "IMP X" part of the obverse inscription by holding it under a tensor light. The reverse inscription, except for the "SC" is almost completely worn away. The purchase price was $30, which I was more than happy to pay since it was the first IMP X found found in three plus years of diligent online scouring of....just about everywhere. For a more comprehensive analysis of IMP X coins of Septimius Severus, the reader is referred to Curtis Clay's discussion on the Forum web-site. These types exemplify my interest in the coins and history of Septimius Severus - rare, with a fascinating historical background, with the possibility of discovering unknown types, for an affordable price. These types, while rare, are nowhere near as rare as those sestertii struck in the years which followed - following the IMP X types the Rome mint would focus almost entirely on striking silver and gold, no doubt to pay the enormous cost of the military. Bronze coins would be struck in large quantities in the provinces, to the delight of collectors today. As for sestertii of the period before these sestertii were again struck in large quantities ca. 210AD - I have an article that shows the Di Patri reverse on the single example I have been able to find and afford. I plan on doing an article that shows photographs all four of the IMP X types found thus far: Victory, Salus, Pax and Bonus Eventus - but please (please) post any that you have, and let me know if you see or have any for sale - thanks!
I probably know that obv. die, but the rev. die appears to be new. It would be helpful if you could sent me this Salus coin too, along with Pax seated! My address is simply Curtis Clay Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. 31 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60602
