One of these had been on my want list for some time... not the regular Dea Caelestis reverse, of which I already had three, but the rare variety where the goddess is holding a drum rather than a thunderbolt. Yes, it's a minor detail, but for some reason I just always wanted one. These notes from CNG describe the varieties best: "The INDVLGENTIA type of Septimius is one of the most picturesque and also one of the most common (in silver) of the period. Most people do not realize, however, that there are four distinct reverse types: 1) Dea Caelestis, looking to front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a thunderbolt and scepter; 2) Dea Caelestis, looking right, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a thunderbolt and scepter; 3) Dea Caelestis, looking to front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a drum and scepter; 4) Dea Caelestis, looking front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a drum, no scepter. The first two varieties are the most common. The third variety is very rare. The last variety is extremely rare. Similar types were also struck in the name of Caracalla in AD 203. Interestingly, the direction of the deity's head appears to have a chronological significance. An examination of the dated bronze and gold reveals that the examples with the facing deity were struck late in 203, while those with the right facing deity were struck early in 204." The example of the third type described above that I managed to win is not in particularly great shape, but the drum is there, and well, it scratches the itch . It had been attributed as a regular thunderbolt type in the auction, but I suspect someone else must have noticed it was the rare drum variety, because I ended up having to pay more than what a common type in this condition would otherwise have fetched. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius. Very rare variety with Dea Caelestis carrying drum. 3.19g, 20.3mm. Rome mint, late AD 203. RIC IV 267a; RSC 219a. O: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: INDVLGENTIA AVGG, Dea Caelestis in elaborate headdress riding right on lion, head facing, holding drum and sceptre; below, water gushing from rocks left; IN CARTH in exergue. I'm going to show my other three here too because I think I haven't actually shown any of them before. First one, purchased from Wayne Sayles several years ago. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius. 3.29g, 20mm. Rome mint, AD 204. RIC IV 266. O: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: INDVLGENTIA AVGG, Dea Caelestis in elaborate headdress riding right on lion, head facing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; below, water gushing from rocks left; IN CARTH in exergue. Ex Mount Angel Abbey Collection; Ex Malloy XIV (1979) lot 908 Second one, a cheap and hideous fourree core with two excellent pedigrees ... SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AE Fourree Denarius Core. 2.34g, 18.5mm. Irregular mint, circa after AD 204. cf. RIC 266. O: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: INDVLGENTIA AVGG, Dea Caelestis in elaborate headdress riding right on lion, head facing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; below, water gushing from rocks left; IN CARTH in exergue. Ex Doug Smith Collection; Ex A.K. Collection (Triton XX, 9 Jan 17, Part of Lot 623) Finally, my third and nicest one, is a Caracalla. CARACALLA AR Denarius. 3.46g, 19.1mm. Rome mint, AD 201-206. RIC 130a var. (Dea Caelestis head right). O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right. R: INDVLGENTIA AVGG, Dea Caelestis, heading facing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, riding lion over waters gushing from rock; IN CARTH in exergue. Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection Please feel free to share 'em if you have 'em!
Wouldn't have noticed the difference, but I have never been big on wanting this reverse type for some reason. Nice eye and find for your side set.
Me: Nary a one @zumbly . However, WOW, NICE JOB searching and scoring that Very Rare 3rd Variety! BIG Fun! Yeah, I know: you are on a search and destroy mission for the 4th Extremely Rare variety! That makes collecting fun. I enjoyed that feeling recently with the Etruria collection.
Thanks for the comments and those coinshares, guys. Ajax and Bing, those are really nice examples. And of course, I've always loved Doug's drum example. Chris, that's a sweet ride .
