IMP X SESTERTII OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS - PART ONE

As noted in other articles on this site, under Septimius Severus the Rome mint began severely limiting the bronze issues struck at the mint starting ca 197 AD. Among the rarities issues struck 197-198 AD (my dates based on RIC) were those inscribed "IMP X" on the obverse, celebrating Septimius Severus's tenth acclamation by the legions - my knowledge of this procedure is poor, and my brief research before posting this was unsuccessful. The IMP X types have been described by Curtis Clay on this site - briefly: these types are rare, usually found in poor condition, and as such easily overlooked. I have spent three years looking for different examples of IMP X, with the result that I just acquired my fourth one on ebay Spain - a very worn Salus type (RIC 747) which will be posted on receipt. I had examples of the other three when I started searching - three years of diligent searching, one found, which gives an indication of how scarce these are.

This photograph (I do not know how to crop it) was sent to me some years ago, and I do not know who owns it. My understanding of RIC is that the image of Salus was only struck for IMP X - why Septimius Severus chose for the most part to ignore a common type in bronze is a mystery.

There is another example - Pax - which is also struck under IMP X -One example previously posted on this site is inscribed "PACI AET PMTRP VI COS II" from an old collection and is the most beautiful of these I have yet come across. RIC 745.

I understand there is another type of PAX under IMP X, without a reverse inscription. My not very great understanding of OUTLOOK means that I have to post what may be an example of this in a separate thread, which I will do now. As usual work is pressing, making it difficult to find the time to do the write ups these fascinating coins deserve, and the reader is referred to Curtis Clay's comprehensive postings on my other articles dealing with the sestertii of Septimius Severus, including another article on this site devoted to these fascinating coins.

 

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Not enough knowledgeto contribute, but I've played a bit around and cropped the image (and removed the fingers).

 

Nicely done! Now if I could only figure out how to substitute your nice photograph with what I have above.

 

A scarcer draped and cuirassed bust, only three such dies known to me.

The rev. die was hitherto known to me from only one coin, in Cambridge, with rev. legend entirely lost to small flan and wear. On the new coin we can read TI A at the top; so the legend on this die was the standard SALVTI AVGG, not the hypothetical dated version SAL AVGG P M TR P VI COS II P P, which I conjectured might also have been used, but is so far unknown.

 

I thought that since the dated types are those which are referenced in RIC, it would be known. Do all of the types found have the "SALVTI AVG" inscription?

 

My thesis included six Salus seated sestertius rev. dies, five of which now definitely show the undated legend SALVTI AVGG.

The sixth rev. die is represented only by a coin in Berlin without readable legend. Presumably its legend too is just [SALVTI AVGG], but [SAL AVGG P M TR P VI COS II P P] remains a possibility.

 

Hi All!
Its my first post here I am collecting ancient coins from about the year, trying to spend as little money as possible (cose my budget as a teacher in Poland is low).
I like especially roman sestertii and yesterday i get for 14 usd this one.

Septimius Severus, sestertius.
It is real?

I checked wildwinds, but havent found this one. Maybe somebody can identificate this coin?

Thank You!

Robert

 

It is authentic- I think the reverse is Anonna - I will try to look it up later. Blake

 

Thank You! I found on wildwinds such denarius with similar reverse, so i think that it maybe Genius?https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s6335.html

 

I found thishttps://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces270189.html, but it has not photo.

What are You think? Anybody have this coin?

Greetings,

Robert

 

Yes, the reverse type is apparently TR P V Bonus Eventus sacrificing, mislabeled "Genius" in many catalogues. Your actual reverse die is new to my 1972 thesis on the Severan coinage of 193-8, which includes a die study of all the bronze and gold coins.

However, the obverse legend of your coin seems to end IMP X rather than IMP VIIII, so BMC 621 (pl. 26.3), RIC 743, Cohen 441.

The middle tine of the emperor's forked beard points at what appears to be an X on the coin's edge, and IMP X can be clearly read on my plaster cast of a sestertius in Bologna which I think is probably from the same obverse die as your coin.

 

Thank You very much for this attribution. As a novice in the ancient coins, I really appreciate the help of such an experienced numismatist! So that is some scarce coin?

Robert

 

The entire IMP X issue of sestertii is scarce, struck from only 14 obverse dies in the large sample of material I collected for my thesis. TR P V Bonus Eventus is one of the commoner reverse types of the issue.

For the full details of this issue, see my thread on the IMP X sestertii of Septimius Severus in the Discussion Board of Forum Ancient Coins.

 

Welcome. I do not have an IMP X but this VIIII gives the idea of the layout. I bought it in 1989 (George Beach) as Genius. We have to get used to differences in cataloging like this. I do not recall seeing a sestertius of the type but that should surprise no one.

 

Thank you! You are very helpfull! Must see the thread on the Forum Ancient Coins.
Greetings from Warsaw,

Robert

 

$14 is a terrific price for this coin, which is quite rare! Blake

 

Mine has the same obverse die.great coin

 

I have to concur that the earlier sestertii of Septimius are rather scarce. So I was pleased when I found this one during my last trip to London. It is not an IMP X but an IMP VII.
Sestimius Severus Ae Sestertius 195-196 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Fortuna standing left holding rudder on globe and cornucopia. RIC 706 26.26 grms 32 mm Phot by W. Hansen This coin represents my only souvenir from that trip. I tend to prefer the earlier portraits of Septimius on sestertii rather than the latter. I think the image is better engraved as well as being more veristic. Another feature that made me go after this coin rather than another was that the flan for once is actually of a decent size.

 

This is among the most beautiful early sestertius I have seen of Septimius- certainly among the top five. I thought I had seen most of the high grade examples but not this one.

Oddly enough I had seen a beautiful example of a rare early Felicitas sestertius of Septimius for sale on some months ago on Numisbids (beyond my means) thought I would see it on acsearch.info but it is not there. There is a beautiful earlier one for sale now perfectly centered like yours with a lovely green patina Annona reverse but again not near my budget.

 

I come back to this coin again and again - just a lovely lovely sestertius, and for me anyway, Septimius' earlier sestertii are not typically that beautiful. Blake