From the Doug Smith Collection

A couple of months ago I was able to acquire this nice Sep Sev from one of JA's sales. It was struck at the Eastern mint of Laodicea. I've always admired Doug's and Martin's Eastern mint SS coins. I suppose Doug chose to sell this coin because he has an upgrade, but I think is a pretty darn nice coin.

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IMP II, Laureate bust right
REVERSE: BONA SPES, Spes advancing left holding flower and lifting skirt
Struck at Laodicea, 194 AD
3.1g, 18mm
RIC 4a, SS 444, p. 151
Ex Doug Smith collection, #892

It's been too quiet here this morning, so post anything remotely associated.

 

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I have a couple of IMP II, Spes coins.

I was tempted to buy your coin just to have a Doug Smith, Sept. Sev. in my collection.

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– Obv:– L SEPT SEV PE-RTE AVG IMP II, Laureate head right
Rev:– BONA SPES, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 194
References:– RIC 444b



Obv:– L SEPT SEV P-ERTE AVG IMP II, Laureate head right
Rev:– BONA SPES, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 194
References:– BMCRE 425. RIC 444b. RSC 57a.

 

Now I need to get an ex Maridvnvm Sep Sev Eastern mint.

 

definitely a nice coin, like that reverse, my only Septimius Severus..


Septimius Severus AR Denarius, Rome. 210 AD. Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT-Laureate head right Rev: P M TR P XVIII COS III P P - Neptune standing
left, holding trident and blanket?, right foot standing upon a globe. "My 18th year
as emperor." RIC IV 241
20mm 3.4g

 

Hey, I've got a whole baggie full of DS coins!

Here's a first-year-of-issue denarius with a great bust. According to RIC, “The earliest coins [of Septimius Severus] are struck on singularly small, thickish flans; larger, less dumpy flans, come in around AD 200.” (RIC IVa, p. 56) I’m not sure I’d call this flan “dumpy,” but it is tight. However, it's centered so nicely that even though the inscriptions are a bit clipped, all the letters are present, which is unusual for Severus’ earliest denarii.



Septimius Severus, AD 193-211
Æ denarius, 2.2g, 17mm, 6h; Rome mint, AD 193-194.
Obverse: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG; Head, laureate, right.
Rev.: VICT AVG TRP COS; Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.
Reference: RIC IVa 22, p. 94.
From the Doug Smith Collection, #292

 

Used to have one with a engraver's error, but Curtis got it in a trade. Nice addition, JW.

 

I have several thousand DS coins and trust me it is nothing to crow about.

I wish I knew young/new collectors who would appreciate some of them as coins not profit potential but most here are only interested in rarities and mint state commons. If I gave them away, most would be on eBay within a week. What is a person to do with scarce orphans that have been upgraded? I can't post them as the best because I just got better. I have had people from CT inquire about buying my surplus coins. The last one wanted my spare Caesar portraits. Really?

Perhaps we need a way of trading low end things but I'm no better in that all I want are your super coins too. I fear it is the name of the game.

 

Hoard them!!

 

For the record, this is my upgrade (not for sale) that made the one JA showed an orphan. Hoarding seems better than seeing them go to unappreciative homes. That is why some people have 1000 cats.

 

Great new Sep Sev addition, Bing (congrats bro)

Unlike Doug and Martin, I only have one measly AR denarius example of Sep Sev

Septimius Severus Denarius
Date: 202-210 AD
Diameter: 19.1-21.6 mm.
Weight: 3.2 gr.
Obverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head of Septimius Severus.
Reverse: VICT PART MAX - Victory holding wreath and palm.
References: RIC 295




... oh, and I have one bronze coloured cat as well (good ol' Rusty) ...

Septimius Severus Sestertius
Date: 193 AD
Diameter: 28.4 mm.
Weight: 18.8 gr.
Obverse: IMP CAES L SEPT SEV PERT AVG - Laureate head of Septimius Severus.
Reverse: VIRT AVG TR P AVG - Virtus holding Victory and spear.
References: RIC 657 (S)

 

The lettering on that coin is excellent! Is it struck on a larger-than-normal flan for the early issues?

 

I agree!

 

That looks artificially toned. Despite the strong strike, I don't like it much.

If it was being sold by a dealer as with Bing's new one, I would buy Bings.

Just my taste.

 

I'm going to guess Doug didn't care about the toning. It's the detail in Victory and the inscriptions that really matter.

 

I've found that Doug has very poor taste in ancient coins

 

lol

 

It is nice but not really special. The tiny flan Septimius coins are mostly after the first year. Some of the 193 issues are nice, some less so. Below are decent Rome 193 issues.


but the really nice early ones are Eastern


The tone on the Victory has been growing deeper. I suspect it had residue chemicals when I bought it in 1991 upgrading the JA coin from 1989. It will be gray in a few years. Tone is fleeting.

Steve has not forgiven me for advising against that super nice RR bronze he wanted.

 

Dang!

 

Even The Pharoas didn't ride a lion. Sep . Sev. RIC IV- 266.

 

Excellent prov on this coin.