Along with the Elagabalus with standards I bought recently I bought I managed to obtain the following coin, which also looks to have endured fire damage. Septimius Severus denarius Obv:– IMP CAE L CEP(sic) SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– FORT REDVC, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference(s) – BMCRE - (Noted as variant of BMCRE 352 in footnotes). RIC 376B (Rated Scarce). All citing RD paragraph 55, page 44, no. 205 A relatively scarce coin.
So this coin is a common type and on the face of it a common legend too. What is slightly more unusual is the short reverse legend. This coin confirms the entries in RIC and BMCRE which are otherwise only known through references into the Reyka Devnia hoard where a single example matching this variety was known. WHilst the equivalent coin with FORTVN REDVC is known for many 100s of examples this might only be the second know with this foreshortened legend. Martin
Martin and Doug constantly get me interested in further areas of collecting---they always find and collect the most interesting and desirable types.....Congrats!!! 'Fire damaged'??? Would that be of modern times you think, or can the imagination go wild and ponder all the ancient possibilities...
I bought two coins from a dealer who had obtained a small hoard of denarii that were found in this condition, implying that they were damages some time ago and not in modern times. There was patina over the fire damage. Regards, Martin
I believe I bought this from Forum a long time ago when coins were not so expensive but then I had less money and this was being sold as a fire damaged coin. Once I got it, I found it to have a rough uneven surface slightly wavy (with no luster) with small uneven bumps...But...in the end...it was sold to me as a burnt coin and no other coin I have has such a feel so I am taking his word that fire is the reason for the shape it is in.
First time I've posted this, but one of my first ancients. 1 of 2 Emesa mints I own; Like OP coin, mine also minted 194-195 IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right / LIBERA AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus & cornucopiae 3.3g 17.0mm
There are dozens of Fortuna variations and certainly the shorter version is more scarce. Oddly, it is also less common to find a coin of this mint with all of both words spelled out. FORTVN REDVC clips both words and is most common. These Eastern things were a lot easier to find before Martin got interested in them.
Nowhere near as rare as Doug's marvellous left facing bust but here is a COS I of the same reverse type with the full FORTVNAE REDVCI.
