Septimius Severus Emesa Mint Denarius

I've always admired the Emesa mint denarii often posted here. I finally pulled the trigger on one with a reverse I had never seen before. Victory is more commonly holding a wreath in one hand and a palm in the other.

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS. 193-211 AD. AR Denarius 17.5mm 2.47g Emesa mint. Struck 194-195 AD. IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, laureate head right / VIC T AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in both hands. RIC IV 426; BMCRE 401; RSC 675d.

 

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That coin has a lot of eye-appeal! Thanks for sharing! I, too, find the iconography of Victory here interesting in holding the wreath in both hands.

 

Very nice find @Nemo. Good detail on both sides and I too love the reverse.

 

That is a scarce one. Yours is nicer than mine but mine (same rx die) was ex Bickford-Smith who was my friend and he expert in these before his death 20 years ago.

 

Thanks for the kind words guys. Doug, that is a great example, what a reverse!

 

There are other variations on the Victory theme. Martin excluded, I wonder how many of the others anyone here can name. He and I have shown all unless I miss my guess. Of course we have shown so many things that I can't expect many to stay awake for such posts.

 

Great addition!

 

So unusual to see the small wings on Victory.

 

Here is mine. Different dies.

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– VICT AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in both hands
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195
References:– RIC 426 (Rated Rare), RSC 675d. BMCRE 401.

Ex Roger Bickford-Smith Collection, CNG 47, lot 1708. Ex Barry Murphy Collection

 

I just looked at my coins to see if I was delusional in thinking the wings on Victory in the OP were much smaller. They are. Here are examples from the Rome mint for PM TR P IIII COS II PP, PM TR P XV COS III PP and VICT PART MAX. It appears that the wings extend down to mid-calf at least on these.

 

Come on folks. Who is going to take on Doug's challenge of naming (and illustrating) the range of Victory types?

 

Well, I inadvertently gave three above.

 

Those were nice coins and all Rome mint (of which there are others). The original thread was on the Eastern 'Emesa' mint coins which Martin and I have shown so often here that some would think them cockroach common when they are closer to endangered species.

 

I don't know this type well at all except for Doug's and Martin's very enjoyable posts. But here a couple that aren't often seen, and NOT (yet?) in my collection.

Victory seated left, holding palm in left arm, inscribing shield on right knee.

Victory standing left with palm, inscribing AVG on shield set on column.

 

Those are both scarce and desirable types.

I have a variation of the standing type with VICTORIA legend.

 

I think I've got one, but it was struck at Alexandria. Victory is there like ever. RIC IV- 350 B.

 

Struck at Emesa-Syria under Septimius Severus, the following coin hints to a certain victory through the trophy on reverse. But the goddess is not there. Only her Spirit

 

I have some Alexandrian Victories walking either way.

 

Then there are the Victory with Trophy types

Right facing with Trophy in both hands



Right facing with Trophy and wreath



Left facing with Trophy and wreath (Alexandria)

 

A scarce type with wreath in both hands! I think Nemo's and Doug's are not from the same rev. die, however.