I got these coins (and one other) today from another CTer. Not my usual FTR posts of late. The first is a drachm and is a much needed upgrade from my ae. Septimius Severus AR Drachm of Caesaria, Cappadocia. Struck year 2 (=194/5 AD). AV L CEP CEOVHPOC, laureate head right / MHTPO KAICAP, ET B in exergue, agalma of Mt. Argaeus surmounted by six-pointed star. Caesarea Syd 387a The other is a nice ae denarius of Caracalla. Caracalla AD 198-217. Bronze (AR; 18-19mm; 3.40g; 12h) . ANTONINVS PIVS – AVG BRIT Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Rev. INDVLG FECVNDAE Indulgentia, veilded, towered, draped, seated left on curule chair, extending right hand and holding secptre, pointing upwards to right, in left. cf. BMCRE V p. 370, 74 and pl. 55.3; cf. C. 104.
I believe year two would be 193-194. I do not know on what date Caesarea reckoned the start of a new year. Alexandria used August 29. Year one would, then, be from the date the ruler came to power until that date when it would become year two. Septimius may have been using January 1 as his date honoring his position as legal heir of Pertinax who did become emperor on that date. There are no Year One coins of Septimius from Caesarea to the best of my knowledge because Pescennius controlled the city then. There are several year two varieties including the Nike ones with the odd ET R date which we take to be a variation on ET B (Greeks had trouble swapping B and R on other coins of this period). Your coin also comes in AE with an altar supporting the mountain.
The Caracalla is one of my favorite types since the INDVLG FECVNDAE makes you ask what the fertile one is being indulgent about. Let's see, the BRIT coins are early in his sole reign and what might the young emperor have done that would require the indulgence of his mother? Kill your brother? Probably not but sometimes politicians need to be careful not to make public statements that people 1800 years later will interpret incorrectly. After all, Geta had it coming to him so there would be no reason to ask mom's forgiveness. Right?
no fel temps? who are you? and what have you done with randy?! that's a great bust on that caracalla, he almost looks ...well, not angry? ...and i always dig a mt. argaeus! (elagabalus)
Thanks all and and great coins. Thanks for the correction on the year Doug, I changed it in gallery. Here is my other coin from Caesarea, of Severus Alexander :/ So I'm a little confused, is this Indulgentia on the reverse, or Julia Domna? .... and Geta started it so yeah, he had it coming Oh I got some, I'm just waiting to post them
