Wow, it has been many months since I could make a new post for a new ancient addition. With prices being so high it's pretty tough to get something for a bargain nowadays, at least in my bracket & interests. Recently I was able to acquire this Drachm of Septimius Severus. It wasn't something I was out to pursue but for the cost, it was a grab it before someone else does. Sorry, the photo isn't great, it's the sellers. Mine were coming out worse. Septimius Severus, (193 - 211 A.D.) AR Drachm CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea O: AY Λ CЄΠ CЄOYHPOC, laureate head right. R: / MHTPO KAICAPI, Mt. Argaeus surmounted by star, ET B, RY 2 (AD 193/4) in exergue. 2.71g 19mm Sydneham 388; SNG Copenhagen 256 SNG von Aulock 6456
That's lovely, @Mat, well-centered, and with an expressive portrait and attractive toning. Here's my most recent Septimius Severus acquisition. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. Roman AR denarius, 3.10 g, 17.9 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 196. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head, right. Rev: P M TR P IIII COS II P P, Minerva standing left, holding transverse spear in right hand and round shield in left hand (i.e., the Palladium). Refs: RIC 83; BMCRE 139; Cohen 417; Hill 216; RCV --.
You comment that, “with prices so high,” made me feel a little better. I thought that I was the only one who thought that market was running a bit strong.
That portrait is excellent. His denarii are often badly struck and this drachma is evidence that provincial mints could sometime do a better job than that of Rome itself.
Nice coin and from the early period I find of greatest interest The type also comes in bronze: I enjoy the drachms of Caesarea and have several that bring up questions/observations. First, there are no year one ET A coins but ET B is one of the more common years. I am looking forward to an upcoming sale of a specialized collection of Caesarea which might shed some light on the matter. The reason there are no ET A coins is that the city was in the control of Pescennius Niger then and Severus was in year 2 when he took over there. Cities that did not declare for Septimius Severus and had supported Pescennius Niger were punished. Allowing one to issue silver coins in year two is not consistent with the idea of punishment. I am unclear on this. There are also year 2 drachms of Caesarea with a Nike reverse. I show two because one is dated E R while the other (later?) is the standard ET R. Using the R form of Beta (those letters were commonly confused but lets remember that the Latin R sound was P in Greek and the people who made these coins were Greek speakers. I have assumed all of the mountain coins followed the Nike series. I am anxious to see what is in the collection to be sold if/when it is published. I won't be buying coins under current market conditions but I could get some answers. Another question I have is whether my observation that some years had many coins of Caesarea while others had none is supported. There are many ET E (5) but I lack that one for Septimius. ET IZ (17) is common. The town also issued coins for Domna Year 5 Aphrodite Year 5 Fortuna/Tyche ET K under Caracalla - (I have seen fewer of these and want to see what comes to light in the future.) and Caracalla. Year 5 (silver but toned black) AE year 13 Now for the big question: The British Museum has relabeled their denarii previously known as "Emesa" to read "Cappodocia". I do not understand or accept the move. The denarius production ceased about the time of the common ET E drachms and were in massive production in the period 194-196 which could explain the lack of drachms but I can't convince myself of the relationship between the two styles that would make me assign them to the same mint. Of course they could be two completely separate mints in the same city. There is too much here that is flying over my head. I still believe the denarii were more likely produced by mints travelling with Septimius but that is just a dream I prefer over listening to experts who insist on naming cities. Are the coins below (now listed in the BM as Cappadocia) related to the drachms? Are they proposing a different city neighboring Caesarea? Have they published an explanation I have missed? The more I learn, the less I 'know'.
..very nice AR drachm of Sept. Sev from a place that made kool coins Bronze coins of Severus Alexander, Cappadocia
Thanks for the replies & great coins, Doug. I'm not much help in any of the questions, maybe @curtislclay knows some answers?
Septimius Severus Ar Tridrachm Caesarea in Cappadocia 210 AD Obv Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed seen from back Rv Helios seated left upon Mt Argeus (That can't be comfortable )Sydenham 403 b Ganschow 448f 9.12 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen When this coin was minted Septimius was at the other end of the Empire campaigning in Scotland. The image on this coin is executed with a great deal of skill.
