Severus II Follis from the Rome Mint

The Corona Virus is taking a serious toll on New York with over 20,000 confirmed cases. Most of the cases are downstate but it's spreading to upstate now . I live in Monroe County, close to Rochester, that had 4 reported cases last week. The number jumped to 80 cases as of yesterday ! I'm doing my part for "social distancing" by becoming a house mouse, only leaving my condo when necessary. With the confinement I'm trying to organize photos & stumbled on a follis I bought from a large offering by Harlan Berk many years ago, a high grade coin of Severus II as Caesar, from the Rome Mint that I haven't posted before, see the photo below. Folles of Severus II aren't nearly as common as coins issued by other members of the tetrarchy; he held the title of Caesar for only 15 months. I now have 3 different folles of Severus II as Caesar, all from different mints. It's interesting to see the stylistic differences from these different mints. The other 2 folles I've posted before but have pictured them again below for comparison. If any CT members would like to post their folles of Severus II on this thread feel welcome to do so .







Severus II as Caesar (struck May 1, AD 305 - July 25, 306), Heraclea Mint, 2nd Officina. AE follis: 10.46 gm, 28 mm, 6 h. RIC VI 26a.

Unlike the first 2 folles this coin has an obverse inscription that uses the abbreviated form of his full name & title: Flavius Valerius Severus Nobilissimus Caesar.

 

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Lovely examples, @Al Kowsky , all of them! Nice bold strike on that Rome mint Moneta one.

 

Super sharp details. Congrats on your "trio". Here is my only one:

SEVERUS II follis
28mm 8.02g Lugdunum
FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
RIC 193 From Incitatus coins


Not sure about the countermark?

 

Great example @Al Kowsky. Not sure which one I like best. I don't have a follis of Sev II, but how about this 1/4 follis:
SEVERUS II
Quarter Follis
OBVERSE: SEVERVS NOB C, laureate head right
REVERSE: GGENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, with chlamys over l. shoulder, patera & cornucopiae; SIS in ex.
Struck at Siscia 305-6 AD
2.3g, 20mm
RIC VI Siscia 171a

 

James, That's an impressive strike & rarely seen coin type . Thanks for posting.

 

With the heavy wear on this coin I can understand why it would be countermarked. Could it be just a bankers mark for acceptance ?

 

TY @Al Kowsky. It's a very nice coin in hand and the patina is nearly black even though it doesn't show in the image I posted. I had to angle the coin for the picture or it would have been just too dark.

 

Great coins, Al , I just have a quarter Follis in low grade, but the colour is nice imho.

 

Great example.


Severus II (305 - 307 A.D.)
Æ Follis
O:SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; altar left, star right: PLC in exeergue.
Lugdunum (Lyon) mint
8.83g
29mm
RIC VI 193

Ex CNG Electric Auction, Lot 372, 1/10/2008

Ex. Gordon S. Perry Collection

 

Three excellent coins, my preference is the lugdunum example (wonder why...)

My only Severus II from Heraclea


Severus II, Follis - Heraclea mint, 6th officina, c. AD 306-307
IMP C FLA VAL SEVERVS P F AVG, Laureate head of Severus II right
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia. HTζ at exergue
9.90 gr
Ref : RCV # 14673v, Cohen -

Q

 

I have only two folles.
Rome

Cyzicus

 

My quarter follis of Siscia which comes in two variants.

 

Q, That's a nice looking follis struck on a broad flan from his short period as Augustus . Stylistically I prefer the coins from Lugdunum / Lyon because they usually show a bust view & an altar to the left of Genius. And your reason ?

 

Very nice Trio, @Al Kowsky

My SevII Quarter Folles...


RI Severus II 306-307 CE AE18 Quarter Folles



RI Severus II 306-307 CE AE18 GENIO POPVLI Quarter Folles Siscia mint

 

That's a nice looking coin Mat . The portrait has the same penetrating stare as my coin .

 

Doug, Your Rome Mint follis has an attractive patina . The type without an officina mark is older & scarcer. The Cyzicus follis is well centered & well struck like so many coins from that mint .

 

Great coins Al. Here is my only Severus II example. It is from the Carthage mint:

 

My reason is me living less than 40 miles away from Lyon (Lugdunum)

Q

 

LOL

 

I envy you living where you do. My wife and I considered living part-time in southern France, but alas, it never came to be.