Septimius Severus, the Undefeated Emperor

I won this a couple of months ago, but haven't gotten around to posting it until now:

Roman Empire. AR denarius (17 mm, 3.01 g). Emesa mint. Septimius Severus (193- 211 AD), issued 194-5 AD. Obverse: Laureate bust right, [IMP CA]E L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II. Reverse: Trophy of arms, INVICTO IMP. RIC 389; BMC 365; RSC 232. This coin: Triskeles 23 (VAuctions 329), lot 499, ex "Maple Leaf" Collection.

Here's my summary biography of Septimius Severus, quoted from my previous post at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/severus-vs-the-parthians.303057/ :

"Septimius Severus was born in 145 AD in Leptis Magna (in what is now Libya), of mixed Italian and Punic (and possibly Berber) ancestry. Little is known of his early career, but in 191 he was appointed governor of Upper Pannonia by Commodus. Commodus was assassinated on the last day of 192 and Pertinax proclaimed emperor, but was killed by the Praetorian Guard just three months later. The Praetorians then blatantly auctioned off the emperorship to the highest bidder, Didius Julianus. Meanwhile, on hearing of the murder of Pertinax, Severus' troops proclaimed him emperor, and he began a march to Rome. Julianus proved unable to raise the huge sums he had promised, and his support quickly fell away; he was killed after a reign of 66 days, and Septimius Severus entered Rome unopposed. Severus, realizing that the Praetorians were trouble, had Pertinax' killers executed and dismissed the rest of the Praetorians, replacing them with men from his own legions whose loyalty he could trust.

"Meanwhile, the legions in Syria had proclaimed Pescennius Niger as emperor, and he had received encouragement from Parthia and its allies, including Osrhoene. Severus first shored up his rear by proclaiming his commander in Britain, Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, then moved against Niger. He defeated Niger in 194, then fought in Mesopotamia against Niger's allies the Parthians, Arabs, and Adiabenians. As a result, Severus annexed most of Osrhoene as a Roman province. Albinus rebelled in 195, upset at being passed over as Severus' designated successor in favor of Severus' own son Caracalla. Albinus was killed in Gaul in 197, leaving Severus free to launch a more extensive war against Parthia. This went well for the Romans, including the sacking of the Parthian capitol Ctesiphon and temporary expansion of the Roman provincial border to the Tigris. However, he failed twice to take the key fortress town of Hatra and (like all Roman armies) made no headway into the Iranian heartland of Parthia. Content with the new territory in Mesopotamia, he moved on to other campaigns in North Africa and in Caledonia (Scotland). While campaigning in Britain he fell ill, and died at Eboracum (York) in 211 AD, leaving the empire to his two sons Caracalla and Geta. He left the Roman Empire with its greatest territorial extent ever, as well as founding the Severan Dynasty."

This coin is attributed to the Roman branch mint at Emesa (now Homs, Syria), which I am sure @dougsmit can tell you more about. It was issued some time in 194-195 AD, so the reverse inscription to the "Undefeated Emperor" and trophy of arms are intended to reference the recent defeat of Pescennius Niger and his Eastern allies. (A fairly extensive coinage series explicitly names the defeated Parthians, Arabs, and Adiabenians, but not Niger directly. It would have been unseemly to gloat over killing a fellow Roman.) If this coin was issued in 195, it may also be intended as a warning to Clodius Albinus and his men: You're going up against the undefeated champion, maybe you should just surrender now. I like the portrait style and reverse design, as well as the historical interest, and my winning bid was just $55, which I thought was rather cheap for this example. Post your related coins here.

 

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Fantastic Severus for $55.

I got this one for $50, and it's one of his Eastern mints denarii from the civil wars period if I'm not mistaken.


Septimius Severus 193-211
AR Denarius 17mm. 3.55g. Laodicea mint. A.D 198-202
L SEPT SEEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, laureate head of Septimius Severus right
VICTORIAE A[V]GG FEL, Victory advancing left, holding open wreath over shield set on low base
RIC 516; RSC 719

 

Nice write up and a good-lookin' coin, too!

Here's a Septimius Severus denarius with a trophy and captives reverse from my collection:


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.26 g, 19.7mm.
Rome, AD 202.
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head, right.
Rev: PART MAX PM TRP X COS III PP, trophy and two captives.
Refs: RIC 185; BMCRE 385; Cohen 375; RCV 6323; Hill 550.

 

I must say that the celator that worked on the dies for your coin had an interesting portrait style for Severus. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. Makes S. Severus look much younger. 

 

Yeah! He looks like a boyish-Geta wearing a fake beard!

 

Can you believe I still don't have a Severus in my collection? That's one hole I've got to fill! Nice coins all. One would think that Rome was omnipotent after the successful war that took Ctesiphon, with its largest territorial extent. Within 40 years, Rome was sucking wind and the great wave of debasement of the coinage had started. The city magistrates were unable to pay their usual (high) taxes and the inexorable decline had started, temporarily postponed by Aurelian, Diocletian, and Constantine (among others) but eventually Rome and the West fell.

 

An almost child-like face. I wonder if celators immortalized their own family members (possibly his young son in this case) as a model for their coins when possible.

 

Nice coin; Great value; SUPER write-up, Thank you Sir @Parthicus ! Fun stuff!

My only one!

RI Septimus Severus 193-211 AR Denarius Genius Sacrificing

 

From my collection:

Historical British associated coins of Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta

Accompanied by his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, Septimius Severus moved his court from Rome to Britain in AD 208 in order to subjugate the northern Barabaric Britannic tribes and restore Hadrian's wall. He established his field headquarters at Eboracum (York) where he later became seriouly ill and died in AD 211.

Caracalla and Geta fought along side him. Caracalla murdered his brother later in AD 212 to become the sole Augustus.


RIC Vol. IV, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, Denarius, No. 335
Obverse: Septimius Severus, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: Victory seated left writing on shield
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT


RIC Vol. IV, CARACALLA, Denarius, No. 231a
Obverse: Caracalla, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: winged Victory advancing right holding trophy
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT


RIC Vol. IV, GETA, Denarius, No. 91
Obverse: Geta, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT
Reverse: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch
Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT

 

I have this one where Victory is a bit flat, I'd like to find a better one to replace it I think.



SEPTIMIUS, Denarius, RIC 271
Obverse:
SEVERVS PIVS AVG
Laureate, head facing right
Reverse:
VICT PART MAX
Victory walking left, with wreath and palm.


Actually, not entirely sure RIC 271 is correct? Hmmm.. maybe RIC295? Not sure!

 

I’ve got a bunch of Septimius Severus, including one of my very first purchases. I’ve added this one because it’s in such nice condition, both sides.

SEVERVS AVG PART MAX.
FVNDATOR PACIS. Severus in Toga

18 mm. 3,13 g.

RIC 160; C. 203; BMC 190.

 

I like the Trophy type from the OP. They changed even during the output of these short issues.

The early versions have longer reverse legends.

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICTO IMP TROPAEA, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa, Late A.D. 193
References:– RIC 356, RSC 233, BMCRE W335.

Die match to BMC coin



Which is why this obverse die can be believed to be quite early

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG II CO, laureate head right
Rev:– INVICTO IMP TROPAEA, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194
Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC -. RSC -.

One other example known in Paris



They do shorten slightly

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICTO IMP TROPA.., Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 – 195
References:– RIC -, RSC -, BMCRE -



The most common variant is INVICTO IMP (I have a few of which this is may nicest)



There are others too such as INVCTO IMC (I am not sure if I still have this one)



and INVICT IMP

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICT IMP, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 – 195
References:– RIC 389 var (inlisted in RIC with this reverse legend, no examples in RD hoard)



Sometimes they are interesting because of an obverse error

Obv:– IMP CAE L SP(sic) SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICTO IMP, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 – A.D. 195
Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC 389 var (S). RSC 232.var



Martin

 

Beautifull SS coins and....great history lessons on SS. He still was rated as one of the 10 most cruel Roman Emperors Caracalla made that list too.. I have denari from his sons, wife, but no aurei Hopefully, that will change in coming year or two

 

Here's a bargain bin Septimius Severus denarius, needs a new pic, really not a bad coin.

 

I only have a few Martin missed. He showed the rare IICO but this is less rare IIC obverse. I suspect but can not prove that this smashed obverse and cracked coin stuck in the reverse die and caused a brockage.


Martin failed to mention there is more than one reverse die with the INVLCTO spelling. These two share the same obverse.


INVIC/VTO imp


Very odd style especially the M in IMP


INVICTO IM no P


There are a lot of minor types that just mean there were many dies and every die was a separate work with little variations. I have some but have not really sought them out so I am sure there are many more. The one coin I do claim to be special is below. By style, the obverse is obviously Alexandria mint. The obverse legend ends faintly in VG as it should. On the reverse at lower right is MP showing the legend was probably INVICTO IMP certainly with no TROPHAEA. I have not seen another Trophy of Arms denarius from the Alexandria mint. Until someone points out another, this dog will hold onto its claim as the finest known. The late Roger Bickford-Smith once told me that this was the coin in my collection he would most like to have but he would really prefer a bit better looking example. I am glad I did not give it to him then. His death set back the study of these coins by decades.


I do not have the Pescennius Niger version of this coin. CNG has sold a couple.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.asp...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1&VIEW_TYPE=0

 

I only have one from SS. Best thing it did not cost much either

 

panzerman, I love that needle sharp reverse of Fortuna.

 

Very interesting denarii of Septimius in this thread.
One from my collection.
Septimius Severus AD 193-211. Rome Denarius. Obv. L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP X, laureate head right. Rev. MARTI PACIFERO, Mars standing left, holding olive branch and spear. RIC 113.