Here's my Boxing Day coin post (Christmas Day's already over for me), a recent Barbarus Septimius Severus pickup... T. Statilius Barbarus, that is . Barbarus was Governor of Thrace from 196-198 AD, and his name appears on issues of various provincial mints in Thrace such as Anchialus, Augusta Traiana, Bizya, and Philippopolis where this coin was struck. While it was the strong, nicely styled portrait that made me want to buy this coin, I do also like my river god reverses, and despite its worn state and beastly black patina this one was no exception. Post any provincial issues from Thrace! SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE28 15.94g, 27.5mm THRACE, Philippopolis, T. Statilius Barbarus (magistrate), 196 - 198 AD Varbanov III 1169 (R5 - scarce) O: AV K Λ C CEVHPOC Π, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust. R: HΓ CTA BAPBAPOV ΦIΛIΠΠOΠO ΛEITΩN, River-god Hebros recumbent left, right hand outstretched, resting left elbow on overturned urn from which water flows, galley in background.
Great Christmas present. My two (both from long ago) are from Anchialus (gate) and Hadrianopolis (Nike) but both are also Statilius Barbarus issues. I only have two coins of Septimius from Philippopolis but both are later - after they stopped using the magistrate name (just says City of Phillipopolis). Note mine both have the same obverse die with a corkscrew beard portrait like we see on the later Septimius Rome mint denarii while zumbly's coin has a portrait that looks like the Rome mint products of the first part of the reign.
Thanks for the comments, folks. Doug, those Septimius provincials of yours always tempt me to look out for more. Have a great evening!
Wow Z-Bro, that's a super new Barbie-addition!! (I'm lovin' the river-god on the reverse ... very cool)
I cringed at the title, thinking you'd misspelled barbarous . Interesting coin! Here's a Caracalla from Thrace: THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla CE 198-217 AE29, 16.4 gm Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent Ref: Varbanov 5007
When I misspell barbarous, I try to go for barbaros, mostly because I think Greek spellings are cooler . Man, I've always loved that Caracalla of yours with the flying snake!
