Concordia's got toes

Even though the reverse die is worn and the devices are kind of mushy, the Celator's attention to detail is still apparent. Concordia even has toes!


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249
Roman AR antoninianus; 3.75 g, 22.6 mm, 6 h
Rome, AD 248-249
Obv: OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right, on crescent
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and cornucopiae, altar at feet
Refs: RIC 129; Cohen 16; RCV 9150; Hunter 7; CRE 524

Notes: There were three different obverse inscriptions for coins issued for this empress by the mint in Rome. Coins from the earliest period, AD 244-246, read MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG; from the middle period, AD 246-248, M OTACIL SEVERA AVG; from the last period, AD 248-249, OTACIL SEVERA AVG. Concordia seated types were issued bearing all three different obverse legends. All are quite common in the antoninianus denomination. Aureii, denarii and quinarii with this reverse type are known but are extremely rare.

As always, post anything you feel is relevant!

 

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Lovely example! Mine is apparently middle period. I certainly can't see toes on it!

 

Pietas on the reverse of mine, but with the early period longer form name.


OTACILIA SEVERA
AR Antoninianus. 4.9g, 22.8mm. Rome mint, AD 244-246. RIC IV 120b (R). O: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed, draped bust on crescent right. R: PIETAS AVG, Pietas standing left, raising right hand and holding box of perfumes.

 

Nice! That one from the middle period comes in two reverse varieties. Yours (RIC 125c) with a double cornucopiae and no altar at Concordia's feet, and this one (RIC 126) with a single cornucopiae and an altar at her feet:

 

Middle period Concordia reverse with double cornucopiae.


OTACILIA SEVERA
AR Antoninianus 4.1g, 22mm. Rome mint, AD 246-248. RIC 125. O: M OTACIL SEVERA AVG, draped bust right, on crescent. R: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in right hand and double cornucopiae in left hand.

 

Very nice! Keep your eyes peeled for the varieties with an altar (RIC 121) or a child (RIC 122b) at Pietas' feet; they are scarce, but sometimes are misattributed as the much more common RIC 120b or 115. The one with the child is very rare. See CNG's auction notes here.

Here's RIC 121, with the altar at her feet:



There is also one with the late obverse inscription and a delta in the field to the left of Pietas; it's worth looking out for, too, it's supposedly more common, but I've found it to be harder to come by.

 

Very nice @Roman Collector

 

Great coin here, @Roman Collector! Love the metal, love the strike radiant of the metal, and those lil tootsies... "This one went to market, this one stayed home..."

Who know she was a time traveler?!?

 

Guess there is a typo and you mean AD 244 - 246 and AD 246 - 248

 

Corrected. Thanks for proof-reading!

 

Mine is from the later period as well, worn toes on Concordia, and heavy at 5.2g. Ex: SteveX6

 

The OP comment that all three obverse inscription types are common for antoniniani is quite true as a general statement, but it breaks down as you get into combinations of obverse legend and reverse types. For the long legend (type I) by far the most common reverse is PVDICITIA AVG. Much less common is CONCORDIA AVGG. Your example of PIETAS AVG is the only other example I have seen except for the one I bought from Zach Beasley not so long ago.


As for the same reverse with the late obverse inscription and an altar on reverse and a delta in the field, I have found two varieties, one of which is listed and one is not yet recognized. The usual form is with a fire on the altar:


But it also exists with no fire on the altar:

 

Thanks for expanding on the topic, lrbguy. It was the long form obverse legend that attracted me to the coin . I’ve seen a few other examples as well, but certainly not very many. Zach’s page shows yours and another, and CNG and Forvm have each sold one example of 120b with this obverse legend.

 

Well, add another example, because here's mine:


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249
Roman AR Antoninianus; 4.61 g, 22.7 mm, 2 h
Rome, AD 244-45
Obv: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right, on crescent
Rev: PIETAS AVGG, Pietas standing left, raising right hand and holding box of incense in left
Refs: RIC 120b; Cohen 30; RCV 9153; Hunter 1; CRE 533.

 

That's interesting.

This type is more common than the type with the altar and without the delta in the field.

 

I have a Pietas, thank you! She is a UNI-TOE!


RI Otacilia Severa 244-249 CE w-Philip I AR Ant Pietas Augustae incense RIC IV 43

 

That has been my experience too.

 

great coin thanks

 

The sestertius version (with the early obverse legend):


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249
Roman orichalcum sestertius; 17.26 g, 27 mm, 12 h
Rome, AD 245-46
Obv: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG SC, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 203a; Cohen 10; RCV 9164; Hunter 14-16.

 

And the as/dupondius:


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249
Roman Æ as; 8.81 g, 24.2 mm, 12 h
Rome, AD 245-46
Obv: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG SC, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 203b; Cohen 11; RCV 9178; Hunter 17.