Ancients: New Septimius Severus Pair of Large AE's

Septimius Severus 193-211 AD AE27 of Nikopolis, Moesia Inferior Magistrate Gallus. ΛVTACEΠT CEVΠROC P, laureate head right / VΦΛΟVΛΠIΛH NIHOΠOΛITN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff. POCI in ex.

27.4mm
11.30gr

Septimius Severus 193-211 AD AE28 of Tomis, Moesia Inferior, Thrace. AK L CEP CEVHROC P / MHTRO P PONTOV TOMEWC, Artemis running, holding bow, reaching for arrow from quiver on back, dog to right.

27.5mm
12.11gr

I hesitate to call them any particular denomination, since they are provincial. One thing to notice, is that both of these photos were taken in the same exact lighting conditions; one after the other. Both coin's patinas look similar in hand, but the metal reflects differently under an overhead light. I'd be curious to know what each coin was alloyed with percentage wise.
I like the difference in busts between the two coins. It's almost as if the engravers were playing telephone. Once you have an engraver copy the copy of a copy of a bust; pretty soon it's not the same you started with.

 

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Both lovely looking coins!

 

Both distinctive and look great. Nice additions.

 

Very nice indeed. I have one S. Severus of Nikopolis to share, with Mercury reverse...

 

Wow, gorgeous new additions!! ... yup, ya gotta love those big ol' AE gems, eh? (I'm definitely jealous of those babies)

Sadly, I only have one worn-out ol' Sep Sev AE example ...




... but it's still one of my favourite coins (it's very comfy lookin')

 

Nice coins IT. I especially like the first with Asklepios.

 

Real nice provintials!!! The Asklepios example has great detail and legends remaining! The Artemis has an awesome action shot!

 

Both are great examples of later portraits with the corkscrew beard. My example shows a Nikopolis from earlier in the reign. Double striking wrecked the reverse.

Sometimes surface differences are made worse in the photo by a small tilt in the coin. This is more likely to happen on high relief coins that do not lie as flat as we might like. I think your second photo is excellent but suggest you try again on the first propping the coin up with a little clay so you can control the tilt to look better through the camera before you shoot. You might be surprised how small a tilt will make a big change in the glare.


The second coin is clearly marked delta in the reverse field for four assaria. I'd guess the first is also but I agree with your caution in this case.

For magistrates see:
http://akropoliscoins.com/page8.html

The Nikopolis is Ulpian who was magistrate when Septimius died. Gallus would read VΠ AVP ΓΑΛΛΟV . Mine is Pollenius Auspex who wa in place at the start of the reign. Mine has a different abbreviation than most and I suspect is very early.

Trivia question: Who knows what the pi at the end of the obverse legends stands for?

 

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Lovely coins, I like the portraits on both. I dont own any provincials of him.

 

I don't have any provincials of Septimius Severus, but I do have some other coins.



Septimus Severus AE Denarius. 196-197 AD. 3.5g, 19mm

OBV: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right.

REV: PROVIDEN-TIA AVG, Providentia standing left with wand over orb & sceptre in other hand.

REF: RIC 92v, RSC 592c

 

Septimius Severus AR Denarius. 200-201 AD, 1.6g, 18mm

OBV: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right.

REV: RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Septimius standing left, holding patera in right hand over tripod altar, & spear in left.

REF: RIC 167, RSC 599.

 

If we're pulling out our S. Severus denarii, well then...

 

I...WANT!!!

LOL!

 

=> yup, there's nuthin' quite like a good ol' math gag, eh JA?

 

My Sep. Severus Provincials:

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, his laureate head rt
REVERSE: BONI EVENTVS, Boni Eventus standing left holding basket of fruit & corn ears
Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 194 AD
2.04g. 16.5mm.
RIC 347


SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COSII - Laureate head right
REVERSE: FELICITAS TEMPOR - Grain ear between crossed cornucopia
Struck at Emesa, 194-195 AD
2.3g, 17mm
RIC 374a

 

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE 16
OBVERSE: AV KAI CE CEVHPO, laureate head right
REVERSE: NIKOPOLITWN PROC ICTRO, crescent and one star
Struck at Nikopolis, 193-211 AD
3.1g, 16mm
BMC 17


SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE 18
OBVERSE: AY K L C CEVHROC, laureate head right
REVERSE: NIKOPOLITWN PROC ICTR, Crescent and three stars
Struck at Nikopolis, 193-211 AD
3.4g, 17mm
Varbanov 2554


SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE17 Assarion
OBVERSE: AV K L CEVHPOC, laureate bust right
REVERSE: NIKOPOL PROC IC, Draped bust of Serapis in modius, facing right
Struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum, 193-211 AD
2.6g, 15mm
Moushmov 927


SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE27
OBVERSE: AV K L CEP CEVHPOC, laureate and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: OVLPIANWN AGXIALEWN, city gate, flanked by two battlemented towers, four arches on wall; N in ex.
Struck at Anchialus, Thrace, 193-211 AD
27mm
Varbanov 205

 

I've seen all those before. I'll say it again. Excellent coins, Bing!

 

Yeah, unlike Doug and Martin I don't have an inexhaustible supply of Sep Severus coins in my collection. That's not meant as a dig. I'm just jealous.

 

I know exactly what you mean! Except that most people here seem to have that many coins. But I know, I've only been collecting for 2 years. lol