I have a couple of Septimius Severus denari, which come from eastern mints: Is this an Emesa issue, or does this coin come from Laodicia ad Mare? LIBERAL AVG The coin has a large flan, but the silver appears to be of particularly low standard: I suppose this coin is from Emesa: LIBER AVG This coin should also be from the Emesa mint: FORTVN REDVC Not sure about this one. I thought it looked a bit eastern, but in direct comparison, this is probably a Rome issue: FIDES LEG TRP COS
The first three with COS II are referred to as Emesa in RIC for example but the exact location of the mint is not known. The fourth coin would be Rome.
I also have a few Victories: VICTORIAE AVGG FEL VICTORIAE BRIT VICT AVG TRP COS (This coin shows an unusual early bust type with straight hair)
Great, thanks a lot. I always thought the first one should be from a different mint because of the different size, fabric and standard. How can a coin from Laodicia ad Mare be distinguished from a coin from Emesa?
The IMP II as shown on my wreath with two hands is designated Laodicea-ad-Mare in RIC but again we really don't know.
Thanks for the explanation. A search on acsearch confirms your assessment. My LIBERAL AVG is probably from Emesa: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3228225 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3133374
After four years since the start of this thread, Victory got tired and sat down on this 'Emesa' Domna. Last I heard, this has not turned up for Septimius but I know of five for Domna.
Your coin would be RIC 400. Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBERAL AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left. Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194-195 References:– BMCRE 373 note. RIC IV RIC 400, RSC 283a I have a few examples. There is also RIC 398 - LIBER There is also RIC 399 - LIBERA There are some from the odd series for COS II with shortened obverse variations Obv:– IMP CA L SEP SE_V PER AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -. Obv:– IMP CA L SE SEV PER AG COS II, Laureate head right Rev– LIBER AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC - RSC -. Obv:– IMP CA L SEP S-EV PER AVG COS - II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC- Another in the COS series but in the COS I issue Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE - V PERT AVG COS I, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBERT AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Emesa, A.D. 193 References:– RIC Page 139 (-) (this reverse type not listed for COS I)
The Liberalitas standing type also occurs in the IMP series IMP II Obv:– L SEPT SEV P-ERET AVG IMP - II, laureate head right Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– BMCRE p. 108 432 note (432 in PERTE, citing Lawrence). RIC 455b (S citing L. A. Lawrence coll.). Obv:– L SEPT SEV P-ERET AVG IMP I - I, laureate head right Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– BMCRE p. 108 432 note (432 is PERTE, citing Lawrence). RIC 455b (S citing L. A. Lawrence coll.). IMP VIII Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head right Rev:– LIBER AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 196-197 Reference:– BMCRE 445 (Same dies?). RIC 481. RSC 288. Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head right Rev:– LIBER AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 196-197 Reference:– BMCRE 445. RIC 481. RSC 288 Obv:- L - SEPT SEV PE-RT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head right Rev:- LIERTA (sic.) AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left. Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 195 - 196 Reference:– BMC -. RIC -. RSC -.
There is also Liberalitas seated..... COS II Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBER AVG, Liberalitas, seated left, holding account-board and cornucopiae Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195 References:– RIC 401 (Scarce), RSC 287 Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBERA-L AVG, Liberalitas, seated left, holding account-board and cornucopiae Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195 References:– RIC 403 (Scarce), RSC 287a COS II - odd obverse legend series Obv:– IMP CA L SE SEV PER AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas seated left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 References:– RIC -, RSC - IMP II Obv:- L SEPT SEV PE-RT AVG IMP - II, laureate head right Rev:- LIB-ER AVG, Liberalitas seated left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left. Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 194 Reference:- BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -. IMP VIII Obv:–L SEPT SEVER P-ERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right Rev:– LIB-ER AVG, Liberalitas seated left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 195 - 196 Reference(s) – BMC -. RIC -, RSC -
Back to Victory... I also have a fairly ordinary Victory seated type.... Obv:- [IMP CAE L SEP S]EV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:- VICT AVG, Victory seated left holding wreath and palm Ref:- RIC 427, RSC 677, BMCRE 402a RIC and RSC cite Cohen 677, BMCRE cites Cohen 677 and Oldroyd bequest, 1946 (ex. L.A.L.).
Over the past couple of years I have followed the interesting and informative "other mints" posts for the Severans. I am happy to report I just got my first Emesa/Eastern Mint Septimius Severus - it came in an undescribed lot. Hope I got it right. Did you see the hole? Unfortunately it is holed - about 15 of the silver coins in the lot had plugged holes in them - most of them with 4, as if for a bracelet mount. Price came out to $1.24 each, so I am not complaining. This one only has only one hole; on the reverse it comes out just above the wreath. My theory is that rather than being deliberately plugged, the jewelry links were broken off. Mostly the plugs are flush, but a few of them stick up a bit; and there is no sign of solder-blob. I am guessing this was done a long time ago as the plugged parts are deeply toned along with the rest of the coins: Septimius Severus Denarius (194-195 A.D.) Emesa/Uncertain Eastern Mint IMP CAE L SEP [SEV PERT] AVG COS II, laureate head right / VICT[O]R AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm. RIC 425; RSC 697. (2.67 grams / 15 mm) In regards to the Emesa Liberalitas types, I have gruesome example of Julia Domna that might fit in, again, it I got the attribution correct. It is so crude it might be a contemporary imitation: Julia Domna Denarius (c. 193-196 A.D.) Emesa/Uncertain Eastern Mint IVLIA DO[MNA AV]G, draped bust right / LIBER[A]L AVG, Liberalitas, draped, standing left, holding tessera and cornucopiae. RIC 627; BMCRE 418-419; Cohen/RSC 103; RCV 6591. (3.00 grams / 18 mm)
Here's a Liberalitas on a Domna denarius. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 2.94 g, 19 mm, 12 h. Uncertain eastern mint, AD 193-196. Obv: IVLIA DOMNA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust of Julia Domna, right. Rev: LIBERAL AVG, Liberalitas, draped, standing left, holding tessera in right hand and cornucopiae in left. Refs: RIC 627; BMCRE 418-419; Cohen/RSC 103; RCV 6591; CRE 366.