I love it! I have a bid in at an upcoming auction for a hippo denarius. Hopefully, I'll be successful.
There are a few varieties of the hippo antoniniani. I do not yet own all of these: With teeth: The one shown above has teeth with the head on a level with the body. In this next the head is held up: In this example the head is held down: Toothless: In this example the head is on a level with the body, but is without teeth: Why does it seem so appropriate that this last is the only one I own at present? Well, that's not quite true. I also have one that is toothless with head held up, but it is such a wreck I am reluctant to show it.
Toothless or not, that's a very nice hippo denarius, indeed! Very nice! Certainly has more eye-appeal than my hippo sestertius:
Thanks, but you do know that it's not a denarius, right? The SAECVLARES AVGG "secular games" series of 248 in silver were antoniniani from 6 numbered officinae at Rome for all the members of the imperial family. Those for Otacilia Severa bear the Roman numeral IIII for the 4th officina. Junior got officina 3, and dad got the rest for the numerals I-VI.
Revisiting this thread after two years (because I rephotographed some coins), I realized I have a reverse die-match to @zumbly 's coin! I'd recognize Pietas' freakishly large hand anywhere! Zumbly's: Mine:
We should mention that the version with delta comes from the officina Greek lettered series where shop four struck for Otacilia, three for Philip II and the rest (1, 2, 5, 6) for Philip I. These and the animal series using Roman numerals for the same numbers introduced the idea of 'open coding' for workshops that would be the Roman standard practice fifty years later.
And perhaps that the OP reverse is known from the eastern mints too? Otacilia Severa Antoninianus Obv:– M OTACIL SEVERA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent Rev:– CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated facing left, holding a patera and a cornucopiae Minted in Antioch. A.D. 247 - 249 Reference(s) – RIC IV -; Tulln -; Eauze 875; Hunter -; Cohen -. Very few examples known Weight 3.57g. 22.18mm. 180 degrees
Very desirable coin, @maridvnvm ! Here's my Rome mint example. Note Concordia holds a double cornucopiae and the portrait style is different:
Resurrecting this zombie thread because I finally obtained a workshop four (delta) PIETAS AVG like @dougsmit 's. Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249. Roman AR antoninianus, 4.49 g, 23 mm, 5 h. Rome, fourth officina, AD 248. Obv: OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right, on crescent. Rev: PIETAS AVGG: Pietas, draped, standing left, raising right hand over lighted altar and holding perfume box in left hand; Δ in left field. Refs: RIC 115; RSC 39; RCV 9157; CRE 531.