A recent Bertolami auction (67) had a great section of just architectural types for me to drool over, so I figured can't have them all so just focused on one type that have always wanted since I started collecting architecture as it exemplifies the lengths the Romans went to portray their building achievements on such a small surface. This Septimius Severus Bronze, struck under Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis, Moesia Inferior: Nicopolis, AD 201-203. So I bit the bullet and paid through the nose (bloodied by the time I paid the juice) for this particular coin although I have a similar type from Aurelius Gallus but more wear and different detail of the same building, a dot in the arched doorway to represent the temple and a curved roof so this was a great upgrade. A special thanks to Severus Alexander for alerting me to this auction although I was already participating it was great to have another CT member thinking of me, this is what makes this Forum great. MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis. Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. Æ 26mm (10.18 gm: h 8). Aurelius Gallus, magistrate. AVT L CEPT CEVHP PER, laureate head right / UP AUP GALLOU NIKOPOLEITWN PROC ICTP, city gate, small temple seen through doorway, ornate large colonnaded building above. AMNG I 1331; BMC Thrace pg. 42, 7; SNG Copenhagen -; Price & Trell 45 (fig. 26). Sear GIC 2124. Varbanov 2621. Very rare, dark green patina, near extremely fine. Ex Gorny & Mosch 186, 8 March 2010, lot 1524. And my existing similar type. MOESIA INFERIOR. Nicopolis ad Istrum. Septimius Severus (193-211). Ae. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis. Obv: AV K Λ CEΠ CEVHPOC Π. Laureate head right. Rev: VΠ AVP ΓAΛΛOV NIKOΠO / ΠPOC I. Camp gate surmounted by superstructure with four columns and gabled roof. H&J 8.14.46.4; cf. Price & Trell 45 (fig. 26 [for a similar view]). 27.32mm, 13.39gm, Moushmov 931. Very rare. LOVE TO SEE EVERYONE'S MOESIA NICOPOLIS AND OR ALL THE DIFFERENT PORTRAIT STYLES REPRESENTED ON SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS COINAGE.
This one of Nicopolis has a very different portrait style for Septimius Severus. It is not listed in AMNG I, Moushmov, Varbanov, BMC, or Sear Greek Imperial: Septimius Severus, AD 193-211 Roman provincial Æ tetrassarion; 26.1 mm, 10.70 g, 6 h Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum Obv: ΑV ΚΑΙ Λ - CΕ CΕVΗΡΟC, radiate head right Rev: ΝEIKOΠΟΛΙ ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΩ, Zeus seated left, holding patera and scepter. Refs: BMC--; Moushmov--; AMNG I--; SGI--; Varbanov-- My example has rough surfaces and it's hard to appreciate the portraiture. My coin is a die match with this one sold by Naumann, which gives you a better idea of the artistic style.
Congrats, AA! That's a nice one on both sides. Mine was struck under a different magistrate and doesn't have quite as refined a portrait. It's still my favorite Sep Sev provincial. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE. 12.6g, 28.8mm. MOESIA INFEROR, Nicopolis ad Istrum, circa AD 210-211. Flavius Ulpianus, legate. Varbanov 2795; AMNG 1339; Price/Trell Fig. 26. O:AVT Λ CEΠ-T CEVHPOC Π, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right. R: V ΦΛ OYΛΠIAN NIKOΠOΛIT, ΠROC IC below, City gate with small tetrastyle temple seen in distance through doorway; above, a colonnaded stoa or sanctuary with three sections. Ex Dr. Rainer Pudill Collection
Wow, what a detailed architectural type! That is amazing. I love the green patina too. Great find. John
Great buy! I didn't know about this auction, so I just looked it up. I was expecting to see a £1000 hammer price, based on what you said. Here's a still recognizable Septimius Severus. From Ascalon, Judaea. Posssibly the temple of Phanebal. Building with four doorways, one within the other, the arcchitraves decorate with uraei; the columns of Egyptian style; in exergue, date (ΘT).
Thanks the purchase price wasn't to bad it was the >40% extra's that was over the top. Love that coin of your's a type rarely seen.
I see what you mean a different portrait style for sure with the lines on his forehead, great coin indeed.
I have not given thought to grouping portraits but will post here the large size Nicopolis coins I have for your examination. There is a similar array of small assarion styles.
I assume everyone interested already knows this but, just in case: Our valued CT member PeteB has a page on his website (along with many great coins) that lists the magistrates of the region and whom they served. Septimius was emperor for a long time by Roman standards so his portraits should have changed a lot. We can do this by style but the change of magistrate names helps a lot, too. http://www.akropoliscoins.com/page8.html
Nice array of SS portraits Doug each with a very slight difference probably related to the the celator skills and how he perceived SS main facial characteristics. I have assembled four types of mine that cover four different cities in eastern Europe. 1st THRACE ANCHIALUS 2nd Pontus, Neocaesarea 3rd NIKOPOLIS AD ISTRUM 4th Thrace, Augusta Traiana