Reading the very interesting topics of our colleagues Martin and Doug, I have to admit that I got curious about getting involved in the Severan eastern denarii niche. This is my first piece, a rather generic, listed type but at a bargain price: SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR18mm 3g Denar (aVF but rather worn) AV: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, laureate head right REV: VICT AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left. EXE: - REF: RIC IV-1 424, BMCRE 395, RSC 675a Scarce, Emesa mint, 194AD. This one from what I gather is rather typical of the Emesa style and not that scarce as it has the usual COS II obv. legend. Sorry for not presenting a more interesting and rarer issue but I'm quite curious to see if I'm actually hooked on these eastern denarii
I would have held out for a better one then that. They're cheap enough. Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) AR Denarius O: Laureate head right. R.Corn ear between crossed cornucopia. (3.19 gm). Emesa (Antioch) mint, AD 194/195. RIC 373, RSC 142b.
I must admit unless it was VERY cheap, I probably would've passed on it as Mat' commented.....although I tend to like 'big bronzes' in that condition----Guess that's the former modern obsolete 'copper' collector still left in me. I just acquired a few More of old Septimius Severus and even a drachm, but I don't believe I have one from Emessa....I'll check in the morning.
It was extra cheap as part of a very cheap lot of denarii. I'll take a picture when it arrives. This is a test to see if I'd really open another focus in my interests with these eastern Severans.
My only issue with the coin is I would need to find a die match to confirm it is VICT AVG rather than VICTOR AVG. There are many, many dies of both and letter spacing varies greatly. I may see a shadow of the T below the wreath which proves nothing. I do not have the die.
Finally home and with a better pic of the Severus and some errata: Coin is actually 16mm and 3.55g in weight. All in all I am quite pleased with it although it has the obvious shortcomings that everyone pointed out. I did not have the time and opportunity to look for other eastern denarii nor to educate myself more about this new focus (that I'll most likely keep on a back burner for now until further research), so here it is:
Your coin represents the most common of the Eastern variations. I'd see your decision now is whether you want to upgrade the Emesa or get representative Laodicea and Alexandria. When I did my page on Emesa, I specified six groups of coins from that mint. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/mintsyr.html Bickford-Smith defined three periods for Alexandria but no one today has followed up on that and few people would know that. I'm less happy with dividing up Laodicea but certainly there are 4 to 6 major groups. Thenyou need about 5 Domnas. It looks like I'm saying you could do a good set in 20 coins but that does not explain why I have 500. I suspect 5000 might be possible if you go to die level but a complete set is impossible due to the number of unique ones. Enjoy the quest. A thought: It seems wrong to collect Septimius Eastern without adding the Eastern Commodus, Pertinax, Albinus, Domna, Caracalla, Geta, Plautilla and, oh yes, Pescennius.
Thank you, good starting point. I am not sure yet how I am to proceed but will make use of these 3 days of weekend to research and devise a structure for this new focus. And maybe even find a companion for Septimius
