Featured February 4th: The death of the African Emperor

Would you go to great...lengths....? sorry I couldn't help myself. That is a very interesting, if not anatomically correct, reverse.

 

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Septimius Severus. AR denarius (posthumous issue), Rome, struck under Caracalla 211(?) CE; 19mm, 3.36g, 11h. BMCRE C21–3, RSC 84, Hill 1232 (R), RIC 191c (Caracalla) (S). Obv: DIVO SEVERO PIO; bare head r. Rx: CONSECRATIO; eagle standing front on globe, looking l.

 

Maybe not for you........

 

Septimius Severus Ar Denarius Laodiceia ad Mare 202 AD Obv Head right Laureate Rv VOTIS DECENNALIBVS in four line within wreath RIC 520a 3.49 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen
This coin represents an interesting feature about some of the coins struck at this mint. On occasion they struck types not normally found at the mint of Rome.

 

While I prefer the coins from earlier in his reign, since you asked for the 'African Emperor' I'll show the AFRICA reverse.

 

Septimius Severus 193-211. Bronze, Nikopolis ad Istrum/Moesia inferior.
Head with laurel wreath to the right
Emperor on horseback to the right
11.66 g. 28mm
Varbanov 2675 HHJ 8.14.34.16

 

Nice thread!...Leptis Magna has got to be one of the most well preserved Roman cities and certainly a place I'd like to visit in the future..

Septimius Severus RIC IV #261
Julia Domna RIC IV #572

 

One of my favorite emperors to collect – here is a selection of my coins of ol' Seppy:


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, 195 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP V; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: P M TR P III COS II P P; Minerva, helmeted, draped to feet, standing l., holding spear downward in r. hand and round shield at side in l. hand. 18mm, 3.15g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 61. Ex AMCC 2, lot 451.


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, denarius, 197–198 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and sceptre. 17.5mm, 3.30g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 130.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 200–201 AD, Rome mint. Obv: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: RESTITVTOR VRBIS; Septimius Severus, in military attire, standing l., sacrificing out of patera in r. hand over tripod and holding spear in l. hand. 20mm, 3.24g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 167A.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 210 AD, Rome mint. Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: P M TR P XVIII COS III P P; Neptune, naked except for cloak over l. shoulder and r. arm, standing l., r. foot set on globe, holding trident in l. hand. 19 mm., 3,54 g Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 234.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 202–210 AD, Rome mint. Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG; head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: INDVLGENTIA AVGG IN CARTH; Dea Caelestis, draped, riding r. on lion, holding thunderbolt in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand; below, water gushing from rock. 19mm, 3.32g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 266. Ex Marc Breitsprecher; ex Secret Saturn 2019 (thank you – I love this coin!).


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 194–195 AD, "Emesa" mint (actually in Cappadocia?). 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.


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.

 

I think, had Septimius Severus been "black", the relatively numerous sources on this period would not have failed to mention it. On his mothers side, his family originated from what is now Italy. On his father's side his family is believed to be decended from Phoenicians who had settled in North Africa. I think Septimius Severus was most likely of regular mediterranean appearance, indistinguishable from his compatriotes in what is now Italy and Spain.

Importantly, Septimius' reign is a godsend for coin collectors: beautiful busts, many different reverse types and available in quantities that keep prices in affordable ranges.

 

The Severan Tondo, from circa 200 AD (one of the few preserved examples of panel painting from Classical Antiquity)
Berlin State Museum

 

Here's my Neptune example, fitting as it comes from late in his reign and perhaps represents a blessing for a safe crossing from the god of the seas on the way to Brittania.

Septimius Severus, A.R. Denarius, Rome mint, 210 C.E.

3.3 grams, 19.1 mm

Obverse: Laureate head right, SEVERVS PIVS AVG

Reverse: PMTRP XVIII COS III PP

Neptune standing left, nude but for cloak over left shoulder and right arm, right foot on rock, right arm resting on right knee, trident vertical behind in left hand.

 

Septimius Severus. 193–211 CE. Lydia, Hypaepa, Æ35 20.25g, 6h. Magistrate Hermogenos II. SNG COP. —, SNG von Aulock —, SNG Leypold —, BMC —. Obv: AYTO KAI ΛOY CE CEYHΡOC; laureate and draped bust r. Counterstamp of cult image. Rx: EΠI EΡMOΓENOYC B CTΡ... YΠAIΠHNΩN; Severus on horseback riding r., brandishing spear at fallen enemy beneath the horse’s forelegs. Extremely rare. Near VF.

 

Here are some Septimius Severus denarii that I have, in no particular order:

 

Perhaps not my favourite Septimius, but my favourite portrait.

Nice to see that many here have coins to share of him.

 

Septimius left us a huge and interesting numismatic material for research. Some of my favorites:

 

Mine from city emesa

 

I am a big fan of the legionary series. LEG XXX VLP is a hard one to find any better than the gogoli coin. For that matter, I consider any full legend legionary worthy of collecting. My first one years ago was another rare one LEG XXII PRI so got a little carried away 'upgrading' them. There seem to be as many LEG XIIII GEMMV as all the others combined.

 

Very good set doug. I have one more legionary in poorer quality, I think common LEG XIIII GEM M V:

 

I dip in and out of collecting these Legionary coins and have gathered a few over the years..

Rome
LEG I

LEG III

LEG VIII

LEG XI

LEG XIII

LEG XIIII

LEG XXX


Imitating Rome
LEG II