New Sestertius of Septimius Severus

As many others in this forum, I like the coinage of Septimius Severus. Especially his denarii come with a plentitude of interesting reverses and from different mints. Also, they are readily available on the market and tend to be affordable for collectors with shallow pockets such as mine.

Getting a sestertius of this impressively beardy emperor is a bit harder and more costly, and since this isn't my main collecting area, I hesitated a bit before pulling the trigger on one. But when I saw the coin below, I couldn't resist. Yes, it shows substantial wear and parts of the legends are missing, but with this portrait, I can see beyond that.

It arrived today, and I took the opportunity to also take new pictures of some of my other coins of Septimius Severus.

Please post your own new and/or favorite Severan coins!


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AE sestertius, 195–196 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SE[V P]ERT AVG IMP VII; 29.5mm, bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, with drapery on l. shoulder, r. Rev: [DIVI] M PII F [P M] TR P III COS II P P; Felicitas, draped, standing l., foot on prow, holding caduceus in r, hand and cornucopiae in l. hand. 29.5mm, 20.23g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 701b.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 194 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Bacchus (Liber), wreathed, naked except for cloak over left arm, emptying oenochoe in r. hand over panther, and holding garlanded thyrsus in l. hand 17.5mm, 2.53g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 32.


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.


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, denarius, 198–202 AD, Antiochia mint (previously attributed to Laodicea ad mare). Obv: L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: MARTI [VICTO]RI; , Mars, helmeted, in military attire, standing r., resting r. hand on shield and holding reversed spear in l. hand. 19mm, 3.01g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 508.

 

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Nice coins !
I do not have a Septimius Severus yet but was looking at a few last night.

 

Nice group. I have published at least a hundred Septimius coins here over the last decade so I'll spare everyone all but one sestertius. It is flatly struck as are many from that time. Three Monetae reverse:

 

Nice lot of SS you have there, Orielensis. The bronze is hard to find, especially in my price range. Here is my favorite, a green one:

 

Very nice new pickup, not nearly as many big bronzes of Septimius out there, I like that portrait a lot. Here’s my favorite denarius of Septimius, and then my only bronze of his, which is a large provincial of him and the Mrs.



Septimius Severus, AR Denarius, 200-201 AD, (19mm., 3.23g), Laureate head of Septimius right/Rev. RESTITVTOR ORBIS, Severus standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod and holding spear. RIC 167.

Septimius Severus - Julia Domna, Moesia Inferior. Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion (29 mm., 14.09g), Confronted busts of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna/ Rev. Kybele seated left, holding patera, arm resting on drum, lions at sides. Epsilon in left field.

 

Great pick up, I like your Denarie as well all with interesting reverses, very nice collection. My newest Septimius and favorite (up to now)
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. H&J 8.14.46.1 (R7); Varbanov 2733 (R6)
Very rare, dark green patina, near extremely fine.
Ex Gorny & Mosch 186, 8 March 2010, lot 1524

 

My latest Severan arrived in yesterday's mail. From the "Laodicea" mint:


Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman AR denarius, 3.07 g, 18.2 mm, 12 h.
Uncertain Eastern mint (Antioch?), AD 196-202.
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Isis standing right, left foot on prow, holding infant Horus on left arm, right hand on breast; on left, rudder.
Refs: RIC 645; BMCRE 618; Cohen 174; RCV --; CRE 353.

 

impressive collection @Orielensis !! A little unexpected which is great.

 

Nice selection! Whenever someone here shows an Imperial bronze of Septimius, I wonder why I don't have one. Really have to work on that.

Here's one of his wife's I have that I like, though it's not a sestertius.


JULIA DOMNA
AE As. 8.89g, 24.9mm. Rome mint, AD 196-209. RIC 872 (R); Cohen 37; BMC 783. O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: FECVNDITAS, Fecunditas reclining to left under vine stock, placing her right hand on globe adorned with stars and resting her left arm on basket of fruit; before her, four children, representing the four seasons, standing on and next to the globe; S C in exergue.
Ex G.G. Collection

 

i have a few, but my favorite is this Denarius with a beautiful portrait.




Thomas,

 

No sestertius. Just this common denarius from the Rome mint:

Rome mint, A.D. 202
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG
Rev: PART MAX P-M TR P X - Trophy flanked by seated captives on either side.
RIC 184
18mm, 3.1g.

And here's a provincial denarius of his lovely wife:

Laodicea ad Mare (or Antiochia ad Orontem?) mint, A.D. 196-202
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA
Rev: CONCORDIA - Concordia, seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae
RIC (Septimius Severus) 637
18mm, 3.7g.

 

@Orielensis, that is a fantastic assortment of ol' Seppie! I particularly like the Libero Patri.


Septimius Severus
Rome, CE 206
AR denarius, 3.41 gm, 20 mm, 12h
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Rev: LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina's other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and a bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison
Ref: RIC 274; BMC 343.
ex Colosseo Collection

 

Whoa! I love that reverse, TIF.

 

My favorite coin of Septimius Severus .

 

Sometimes Septimius Severus comes with a countermark or two:



Septimius Severus Æ 25
Pamphylia, Perge
(c. 193-211 A.D. ?)
[AVT] K Λ CЄ CЄOVHPOC, laureate head rt. / ΠЄPΓAIΩN River god Cestrus reclining left, on amphora gushing water, holding reed and cornucopia.
BMC 34
(8.63 grams / 25 mm)

Countermarks:
(1): Eagle facing, in oval, 4 x 5 mm. Howgego 334 (50 pcs).
(2): A.K. in rectangle 5 x 3 mm. Howgego 513 (43 pcs).

"Note: Countermark (2) was applied earlier than (1)...countermark (2) is not found on coins struck later than..Elagabalus."
from FORVM Collection Automan.

 

SEPTIMUS SEVERUS

(My only coin)


RI Septimus Severus 193-211 AR Denarius Genius Sacrificing


IULIA DOMNA's AS


RI Julia Domna 196-211 CE AE As Hilaritas cornuc RIC IVa 877

 

My Severan Sestertii:

 

Nice coins @Orielensis.

Wow! This coin is a true beauty! Really amazing, it totally grabs you.

Here is my humble denarius, I still really like it though. Strong portrait and a nice background story to it. I believe Caracalla has a similar type.

 

@Orielensis Super coins ! And some absolute beauties from the other posters......
Here's one of his kids...

Geta, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 203-208.( Minted AD 205 )
Ob- GETA CAES PONT COS, bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev- VOTA PVBLICA, Geta standing left, sacrificing out of patera over tripod & holding roll.
RIC 38b. 3.57g, 14mm, 7h.

 

Limes, Thanks, my jaw dropped when I saw the coin . The portrait has medallic qualities not often seen on provincial coinage. Your denarius along with so many other beautiful coins in this thread proves the aesthetic quality of Roman coinage was still at a very high level during the reign of Septimius Severus. The number of different denarii during his reign is staggering & worthy of a specialist's pursuit.