Septimius September!

24. Over the years, I have generally avoided buying coins just because they were high grade and have always preferred coins with some wear but good strikes and surfaces leaving the mint state rough ones for others who dislike wear and pay for that grade. I made a very uncharacteristic purchase in 1994 from Bill Porter probably made possible because the reverse centering kept the coin from being a super-coin. Worse, the thing is from the Rome mint and later (198-200 AD) than my prime period of interest. The portrait is quite nice.


As backup for this example of collecting for condition, I'll show my less perfect but still relatively high grade denarii of the other mints. Each of these were selected for reasons other than their letter grades. Eastern Septimius is not a good specialty for those who must have only MS coins with bold strikes and pristine surfaces.

Alexandria


'Emesa'


and 'Laodicea'

 

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@Orielensis has shared a classic "Emesa" later period COS II with Moneta standing. One of the things that you notice with this coinage is that there is a shortening of legends over time. The earliest issues using longer forms of the legends and you can see them shorten over time. This is evident when you look at such a coin in the context of the series as a whole but then if you bear this in mind it can help you roughly place some coins in the chronology based on the reverse legend length.

I will stick to standing varieties and ignore Moneta seated for now.....

The first issue from the mint is the "AVG" issue

RIC identifies 359 - MONET AVG (citing Cohen, which doesn't give a source) and 359A MONETAE AVG (citing R D) as being part of this series. I don't have either of these. BMCRE only refers to them as described above. I have no doubt that the MONETAE exists but I do doubt that the MONET coin exists and it is quite possibly a mis-reading. I illustrate candidates of the reverse die below for the MONETAE coin.

Here we find it with the II COS reverse legend sub-series

Obv:– IMP CE L SEP SEV PEPT AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– MONETAE AVG II COS, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 193
Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -.

3.18g, 18.87mm, 0o



And here we have a mis-spelling of MONETAE

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right
Rev:– BONETAE AVG (sic), Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 193
Reference(s) – RIC - (unlisted cf. 359A, which is scarce citing RD). RSC -. BMCRE - .



There is a set of obverse dies that end AVG II C, AVG CO etc. that don't fit into any logical pattern from a chronological perspective. We can however assert that they could well be contemporary with or follow immediately on from the AVG issue because of the die linkage between the BONETAE coin above and the following coin.

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG II C, Laureate head right
Rev:– BONETAE AVG (sic), Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa, 194 - 195 A.D.
References:– RIC -. RSC -. BMC -.

3.16g, 18.53mm, 0o



This peculiar BONETAE die, which is an obvious mis-spelling of MONETAE would imply that a MONETAE SHOULD exist and I can confirm that it does ties to the same obverse die as immediately above.

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE-V PERT AVG II C, laureate head right
Rev:– MONETAE AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopia in left
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194
Reference:– RIC -, BMCRE -. RSC -



I suspect that this could be the MONETAE die found in RD or potentially this one.



It is generally believed that the next transitional issue is the COS I issue which is relatively large compared with those above.

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE. - V PERT AVG COS I, Laureate head right
Rev:– MONET.A.E AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194
References:– BMC Page 90 (j), RIC Page 139 (7b) (Scarce), RSC 347c

2.53g, 17.61mm, 0o

Shares the same obverse die as a coin in the Doug Smith collection with a different reverse die



The COS I issue is quite varied in bust style with the Long bust type being the most recognised.

The following, with the same bust style is likely a MONET AVG as we see the reverse legend already shortening



A more COS II style COS I die with MONET . AVG



I have a few COS II RIC 411a examples (too many to share them all)



This one is slightly unusual in that the M in MONET is split M-ONET as on the above coins and this one has a MONE-T break. Not of interest to most but interesting to me.


Then we get into more "oddities" but then as has been mentioned before these are all a but odd but some are just more odd than others.

One from the "Short Legend" COS II sub-collection

Obv:– IMP CA L SE SEV PER AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– MONET AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194
References:– RIC -, RSC -



MONEI AVG (double die matched examples)



MONE AVG


MONTE AVG


SPE(sic) SEV in place of SEP SEV on the obverse


FORTVN REDVC but depicting Moneta.....


And that's just Moneta standing from "Emesa" and only a small subset from my collection of these

As @dougsmit mentioned... someone around here is obsessive about these coins...... I think it might be me....

 

I have long been a fan of this die's eye style. My reverse is soooo ordinary but I got the coin in 1987 so I'll keep it.

I appreciate not being the most obsessive collector of these. I hardly have twenty. Most are ordinary. Some less so.

In the interest of equal opportunity, I'll mention that these also come with Domna obverse. Note the eye and IVLA. I even like the two dot reverse. I am not the obsessive one; remember that!

 

And the MONETAE AVG II COS comes from J-D too making this obverse die probably early in the series



J-D also has Moneta seated type, also wit IVLA and dots just in a different place. Sometimes described as MONETA II AVG, which I personally think is incorrect

This reverse die is die linked to a later standard COS II of SS

 

Septemberius 24th - for reasons obvious from the above posts, I do with I had a MONETA type to share, but I am running low, and so another scruffy Provincial:


Septimius Severus Æ 28
(c. 193-211 A.D.)
Thrace, Pautalia
Caicilius Largus, Hegemon
[A]V K Λ CEΠ CEV[HPOC Π]. laureate head right / HΓ[E KAIKIΛAPΓOV] OVΛΠIAC
ΠAVT[AΛIAC]. tetrastyle temple with Asklepios standing with serpent-entwined staff.
(13.51 grams / 28 mm)
eBay Sep. 2020
Attribution Note:
There are several variations of this type, found exact match for legends via acsearch:
Varbanov 4631, noted as rare.
Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann)
Auction 33, Lot 288, July 5, 2015

 

As a follow on to @dougsmit and his high quality / grade coins I must say that I don't collect by grade my collection focuses more on the mere existence of the coin and will generally accept them provided they are identifyable and even then I might stretch that definition to "broadly identifyable".

I don't think I will share anything that I own from Rome as I don't have anything that would be considered anywhere near high grade. From the other mints I will share coins that are "high grade for the mint/issue in question"

Alexandria


My "Emesa" is coincidentally an obverse die match and of the same reverse type as Doug's coin.


My IMP II is also the same type as Doug's


For IMP VIII this is about as good as my cellection gets


For later Laodicea I would go for this one

 

My great regret is that an ocean separates me from the collector I would most enjoy meeting in person.

The 'dots' on these coins have a distinct tendency to being triangular. Those who do not realize that might mistake them for poorly made II's but they are triangular dots.

This Julia obverse die is very common among the all-rare early 'Emesa' coins for her. My completely unscientific guess is that it was her first from that mint.

I believe that coin is most likely the finest known BUT I would really like it better if it were more clear on the right end of the reverse so it would be obviously COS II rather than COS with no numeral. I have both but the COSII version is poor in the same region. They are what they are.


My COS (plain) is not all that great of a coin but does suggest the lack of a numeral rather well unless we find a die match that adds evidence of widely separated II in that region.

 

I thought I would show my only SS Emesa:

Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. AR Denarius (19x17mm; 3.08 gm; 6h). Emesa mint. Struck 194 AD. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Fortuna standing left, holding long palm and cornucopia. RIC IV 383; RSC 175a

 

For our several Septimius Severus experts here, do I have this coin correctly attributed as an ancient imitation or could it be from an eastern mint?

Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. AR Denarius (18mm; 2.58 gm; 6h). Probable ancient imitation. Obv: Laur. head right. Rev: Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Crudely similar to: RIC IV 295; RSC 744.

 

Imitation

 

Same type but different style and still an imitation.

 

Thanks folks!

 

25. September 25 is my wife's birthday and we are going out for a little trip early tomorrow so I'll post my 25th coin just a bit early. The coins here were featured as guests in my Bride page. I'll just cheat and cut/paste from my own page.
"

Guests
Julia Domna - silver denarius - 194 AD
Syrian mint 'Emesa'?
IVLIA DO-MNA AVG
FELICIT TEMPOR
Basket of fruit
Septimius Severus - silver denarius - 194 AD
Syrian mint 'Emesa'?
IMP CAE L SEP SE-V PERT AVG COS-II
FELICIT TEMPOR
Basket of fruit

"Guests" at the wedding include a married couple: the "Baskets". This scarce 'Emesa' type shows a basket of fruit and grains surrounded with FELICITAS TEMPORVM (sometimes shortened as here). Both coins were struck by the same reverse die. It is very unusual to find Roman coins of different rulers that are dielinked. Eastern denarii of Julia Domna include both the expected "female" types (Venus, etc.) and reverses shared with Septimius. At Alexandria, different dies were cut for each ruler even when the design was the same but, at 'Emesa', it is not unusual to find examples of shared dies. This would make it likely that coins were struck for Septimius using the seated ("Bride") type and for Julia with the walking ("Groom") Victory. Whether any have survived and will come to light from new hoard material remains to be seen. The number of varieties known for the Eastern mints of Septimius has increased greatly in the last fifty years. Many coins struck in the East are included in hoards found in the Middle East and Eastern European lands that have been providing collectors with so many coins in recent years. The chance of still more new finds is excellent."

The coin of the day is the Septimius with II beyond the point of the bust. Julia is his +1. Below is a similar coin with legend FELICITAS TEMPOR. rather than the FELICIT TEMPOR filling out the space available. It also has the ordinary placement of COSII on the obverse. RIC only lists the FELICITAS TEMPOR (long version) paired with a left bust and rated R2. I suppose this makes this the better of the two but the die link to Domna is what earned the listed variety its place as day 25 coin of the day. Obviously I would really like the left facing version.

 

Please have a great time. Happy Birthday to your wife... I am sure you will have an enjoyable trip.

 

Have a good trip Doug. I hope that you take a Basket of fruits for you and your wife to enjoy on your trip out.

Obv:– IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right
Rev:– FELECI[TAS] TEMPOR, Basket of grains and fruit.
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 - 195
Reference(s) – cf RIC IV 619; cf BMCRE 415;

The FELECI is clear but I am supposing the TAS based upon the spacing and what would appear to be the ghosting of the letter that have been lost through clogging.

 

@dougsmit stated above that he likes Minerva... well I like Mars and Mars from Alexandria is harder to find....

Obv:- IMP CAE L SEP - SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right
Rev:- P M TR P III COS II, Mars advancing right, holding spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder
Minted in Alexandria. A.D. 195
Reference:- BMCRE 328. RIC 350D (Rated R - citing the B M). RSC 397a.
ex - Barry Murphy collection (sold in 2003).



I have included the BM coin (Donated by H. Mattingly Snr. in 1926) image for comparison

 

Septemberius 25th - a big green sestertius:


Septimius Severus Æ Sestertius
Rome Mint
(194 A.D.)
L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IIII, laureate cuirassed bust right / ANNONA AVG COS II P P S-C Annona standing left, holding corn ears & cornucopia, modius at left.
RIC 677; Cohen 33; BMC 521v
(24.77 grams / 30 mm)
eBay Nov. 2017

 

My very humble example!

 

Mars is a hard one from Alexandria.

I wonder how many different dies there were for these. I have not looked into it.

This last one seems barbarous but looks a bit like the Alexandria style.

 

happy birthday to the misses Doug and have youse selfs a good time