Portrait of Septimius Severus

When you decide to buy or sell things because of short term ups and downs, that is day trading. When you buy what you want and have full intention of owning it for the duration, that is collecting. I appreciate the service provided by dealers who make coins available to those of us who collect what we find interesting but realize that they make more money from those who change their holdings constantly. I look forward to the opportunity to buy more coins when the day traders move on to rare tulip bulbs or whatever is next for those after money rather than coins.
Just in case someone here does not know:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania

For the record I also believe in this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_fool_theory
You are always right until you are wrong. Are there infinite greater fools? Maybe; maybe not.

 

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Fortunately enough sculptures were made throughout the ancient Roman Empire that still exist today that we can get an accurate picture of what Septimius Severus looked like. Severus was born in Africa & considered a barbarian by the Roman elite. His racial stock & novel appearance inspired artists to create some handsome sculptures of this emperor. Pictured below are some samples of Sept. Severus sculptures.


A youthful looking Severus


This is one of my favorites. Severus has a very penetrating stare


This marble bust was found in Syria


This bigger than life-size bronze was found in Cyprus in 1928


This is a 17th or 18th century marble bust made in Italy. It barely resembles Severus.


This is a small 20th century creation cast from marble dust & resin. It was made for the tourist trade & sold for about 60 euros.

 

I hope dougsmit will kindly allow me to share this page and make a few points of Septimius Severus.
Quote (re. fake Sev. coins): "The Septimius Severus is ordinary except for the bust wearing an aegis."- Septimius Severus crops up, not unusually amongst the fakes,
and has, even, in recent years, been discussed on CT (shown online).The British Museum (Images) has "Fake, coin, Septimius Severus, Roman Empire. Object type: fake, coin. Denomination: sestertius. Authority: Septimius Severus. Materials: copper alloy. Production place: Rome. Production date: 193 (but possibly modern)."
I have left out some technical details, and hope the above information will be useful.

 

Impressive coins!!!

Have shown this Septimius in another thread. Can't say if it is a naturalistic portrait, just like it; he looks very startled. The flan is tight. Main catalogs do not seem to agree on mint but it could have been struck in Rome:

Denarius, Rome 197 - 198 AD, under the authority of Septimius Severus and co-ruler Caracalla

15 x 16 mm, 3.28 g;
Ref.: RIC IV Septimius Severus 119A; Cohen 641;
RCV does not list this type but the IMP XI one under RCV 6363.

Ob.: (L SEPT) SEV PERT AVG IMP X, Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right
Rev.: SALVTI AVGG, Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in extended right-hand snake coiled round altar

​

 

Great coins shown and a very interesting thread...I only have one...
AR Denarius Septimius Severus 193-211 AD..3.37g. 18mm. 202-210 AD Rome mint.
Obverse- SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Reverse- FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
RIC IV 261

 

I've always had a soft spot for the "trophy and captives" theme



Completely by accident, I also have the same as a limes denarius!

 

Such fine examples of Severus' coinage - there is something exceptional about his portraits so often. Looking at these made me think about my own small collection.

Below is my very first ancient, purchased from a local dealer in 1987 - it is still one of my favorites (if only for sentimental reasons), although I still think it one of the better portraits in my collection:


Septimius Severus Denarius
(194-195 A.D.)
Rome Mint
L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IIII, laureate head right / MARS PATER, Mars walking right, holding spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder.
RIC 46; RSC 311; BMCRE 84.
(3.23 grams / 18 mm)

 

Some great portraits shown in this thread but what about my avatar?
Thrace Anchialus Septimius Severus
Thrace Anchialus Septimius Severus City Gate Size: 27.05 mm Weight: 13.08 grams, Attribution: Moushmov 2810
Date: 193-211 AD
Obverse: AV K Λ CEP - CEYHP P C, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right
Reverse: City wall with two towers and two blocks along top of wall
Size: 27.05 mm
Weight: 13.08 grams
Ex Ray Wilk/Ancient Imports.

 

What's this ? A bigger than life size (Cypriot) statue of Caesar Septimius in all his glory ! Was this in revenge by Albinus, who Septimius had made Caesar and promised him the succession, but changed his mind ?Whoever, or whatever, but I wouldn't have cherished being in the sandals of that sculptor !!!

 

The statue of a youthful looking Severus - is that an image of Medusa on his breastplate ? - Then, Severus with "a very penetrating stare." What is he staring at ???

 

There are many great coins of Septimius Severus in this thread, especially that wonderful denarius @dougsmit posted – what a portrait! Here are two somewhat humbler examples which I nonetheless like. The first one shows what I consider an attractive Eastern style, and the second one is a nice product of the Rome mint with an interesting Hercules reverse:


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 194–195 AD, Emesa mint. Obv: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: MONET AVG; Moneta, draped, standing l., holding scales in extended r. hand and cornucopiae in l. hand. 18mm, 3.32g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 411A.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 196–197 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [L SEP S]EV PERT AVG IMP VI[II]; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: HERCV[LI DEF]ENS; Hercules standing r., leaning on club and holding bow, draped with lion skin. 16mm, 3.10g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 79.

 

Quite an enormous amount of artworks of Septimius Severus. Does anyone here know if any statues, busts, paintings etc. were made during his lifetime, and still exist ?

 

It's fair enough to say that I have been defeated by a couple of you guys. There are some wonderful coins in this thread

 

Thank you for pointing that out. You are absolutely right, it's Rome mint. I think RIC 144b is correct.

 

I believe this illustrates much of the appeal I find in the coins of this period. In addition to the differences of the mints and types, we can study/enjoy variations that would catalog the same. For example, the coins below are the same to RIC number but different to my eye. I prefer not to inject my opinions of better and worse in this regard. Coins that are all the same (modern) are boring to me. I like them different.