Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Marsyas Mike, post: 2969289, member: 85693&quot;]Fascinating post.&nbsp; I really appreciated Doug&#039;s insights as to quality control at the Roman mint.&nbsp; Although we&#039;ll never know for sure, his scenario certainly sounds plausible. </p><p><br /></p><p>Which brings me to two Severans in my collection from the &quot;ugly period&quot; of 197-198 A.D. (if my attributions are correct).&nbsp; Both are IMP X (one for sure, one I am guessing about) and both are on fairly small flans.&nbsp; What puzzles me is the remarkable weight variations. </p><p><br /></p><p>The toned one (right) is 1.78 grams, which would lead me to suspect a &quot;limes&quot; denarius, although the workmanship looks too good for that.&nbsp; Perhaps a fake? </p><p><br /></p><p>The other one (without the tone - left) is the heaviest SS in my collection - 3.44 grams, on a small 15 mm flan.&nbsp; It is a real chunk.&nbsp; This was from eBay, a $4.99 from a seller who said he thought it had been clipped, and was otherwise unsure of its authenticity.&nbsp; For the price I thought it was worth the risk of a phony. </p><p><br /></p><p>Did weights, in addition to quality, vary tremendously when Septimius was away from Rome?&nbsp; Or do I have a couple o&#039; fakes? </p><p><br /></p><p>Photos with my efforts at attribution:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]728233[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]728230[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]728234[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Septimius Severus </b></p><p><b>(197-198 A.D.)</b></p><p><b>Rome Mint - Denarius</b></p><p>L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP X, laureate head right / VICT AVG-G C-OS II P P, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left. RIC IV 120(c);</p><p>BMCRE 258; RSC 694. (1.78 grams / 16 mm)</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Septimius Severus </b></p><p><b>(197-198 A.D.)</b></p><p><b>Rome Mint - Denarius</b></p><p>[L SEPT S]EV PERT AVG IMP [X], laureate head right / [PACI AETER]NAE, Pax</p><p>seated left, holding branch and scepter.</p><p>RIC 118; RSC 357; BMC 353 (3.44 grams / 15 mm)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in