To The Victor Go The Spoils

Septimius Severus AR Denarius 198 AD, Laodicea Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, L SEP SEVERVS PER - AVG P M IMP XI/ Rev. Victory advancing left, holding wreath & palm branch, VICT AVGG COS II P P. RIC IV-1 499, RSC III 695, Sear RCV II 6370. 19.29 mm., 3.15 g.



I'm not sure what victory this refers to, since it was around the time of his Parthian campaign but doesn't mention Parthia. He certainly looks content.

 

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That's quite an unusual nose that Lucius Verus has there!

 

I also like the IVST AVG and SEVER AVG

There are some other variations too

VICTOR IVST AVG II COS

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– VICTOR IVST AVG II COS, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 193
Ref:– BMCRE W338 note. RIC 362a (Rated R2). RSC 740a

3.03g, 18.28mm, 180o

Only two other examples known – “reported by Bickford-Smith from Dura Europus 942”
All references cite the same coin from the 3rd Dura Hoard, Num. Notes and Monographs, 55, Pg 46. No. 216
Another example from the same die pair in Curtis Clay's collection.



a different reverse type with SEVER

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS I, Laureate head right
Rev:– VICTOR SEVER AVG, Victory walking right, holding trophy in both hands
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195
References:– BMCRE -, RIC -, RSC -

2.80g, 18.22mm, 180o

 

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VII-I, Laureate head right
Rev:– ARAB ADIABENIC, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm (R of ARAB corrected over B)
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 196-197
Ref:– Cohen -, BMCRE -, RIC -.

The reverse refers to victory over Niger. To hide the fact that this was a civil war, it is phrased as victory over Arabs and Adiabenians, who aided Niger's cause.



Which was later followed by adding the Parthians to the list

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG PIV IMP XI PAR P M, laureate head right
Rev:– AR AD [T]R P VI COS II P P, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
Eastern mint. A.D. 198
Reference:– BMCRE page 280 *, citing RD page 105. RIC 494a corr.

The reverse shortens to AR and AD for the Arabs and Adiabenians but adds the Parthtans on the obverse.



This very short short issue (one obverse die) preceded one where the Parthians, Arabs and Adiabenians are all moved to the reverse legend

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG P M IMP XI, laureate head right
Rev:– PAR AR AD TR P VI COS II P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 198
References:– BMCRE 625. RIC 495, RSC 361



The initial victory over the Arabs and Adiabenians was also celebrated in Alexandria as is shown on this rare coin which is one of a very few of the Alexandrian issues to commemorate a specific historical event. In reality ot probably copies a Rome type that made it's way to Alexandria and was copied.

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– [IMP C]AE L SEP [SEV PERT AVG], Laureate head right
Rev:– ARAB A-DIA-B COS II P P, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, trophy on left shoulder
Minted in Alexandria, A.D. 195
References:– RIC IV 346; BMCRE 326; RSC 47a

2.68g, 18.19mm, 0o

 

The IVST/SEVER matter has a problem IMO. We are told that the IVST coins were struck first and SEVER was a correction. However IVST coins come in the first legend and every other obverse variant including the regular COS II. SEVER coins do not come with the first legend but they do come with the 'others' (COS I, IICOS etc.) before settling down with the standard COS II. If the mint had been told to stop production of the IVST coins, would there be this much overlap?
IVST with COS II:


I have been told that the dots on the reverse of these coins were meaningless space fillers. I have never been able to accept this and this coin illustrates the reason. There would have been room for the T where the dot was placed but the dot pushed the T over with AVG. I have no idea what was the significance of the dot but it seemed necessary to the die cutter.

 

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG - Laureate head right
REVERSE: VICT AVG TR P COS - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm
Struck at Rome, 193-194 AD
2.8g, 17mm
RIC 22, BMC 30, S 6369, C 682

 

I have this Constans with two Victories facing each other (Better in hand).
I am not entirely sure what the Victory was, perhaps the defeat of his brother Constantine II?



CONSTANS (AD 347-348) Follis, 16mm, Mint Aquileia
Obv; CONSTAN-S PF AVG. laur & rosette diademed, draped, cuir, bust rt
Rev; VICTORIAE DD AVGGG NN, Two Victories facing each other with wreaths and palms. Dot in centre field?
AQS in ex. RIC VIII Aquileia 83

 

Very nice Elagabalus!!

Here are a handful of my faves in my collection...

A Sestertius from SS early in his reign celebrating his coming into power being victorious over DJ.

Septimius Severus, Ruled 193-211 AD
AE Sestertius, Struck 193 AD, Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES L SEPT SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right.
Reverse: VICT AVG TR P COS, Victory, winged, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm sloped over left shoulder in left hand; S-C across fields.
References: RIC IV 656
Size: 30mm, 21.2g

This AP As celebrates victory in Britain.

Antoninus Pius, Ruled 138-161 AD
AE As, Struck 143-144 AD, Rome Mint
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; Laureate head right.
Reverse: IMPERATOR II; Victory, winged, draped, flying right, holding trophy, pointing upwards to right, in both hands, S-C in field.
References: RIC III 732a; BMCRE pg. 261
Size: 26mm, 10.07g
Notes: Pius was acclaimed imperator for the second time following the victory of Q. Lollius Urbicus over the Brigantes in Britain, and the construction of the Antonine Wall.

A victory celebrating MA's success in Germany.

Marcus Aurelius, Ruled 161-180 AD
AE Dupondius, Struck 170-171 AD, Rome
Obverse: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV, Head of Marcus Aurelius, radiate, right.
Reverse: IMP VI COS III, Victory, winged, naked to waist, standing front, head right, setting on palm-tree right, shield inscribed VIC GER; S-C across fields.
References: RIC III 1002

MT celebrating his coming to power.

Maximinus Thrax, Ruled 235-238 AD
AE Sestertius, Rome Mint
Struck 235-236 AD, 2nd Emission
Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG, Victory, winged, draped, advancing right, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm in left hand, S-C across fields.
References: RIC IV 67
Size: 30mm, 17.0g

TD for his coming to power.

Trajan Decius, Ruled 249-252 AD
AE Sestertius, Stuck 249/250 AD, Rome
Obverse: IMP CAES C MESS Q DECIO TRAI AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right, slight drapery on far shoulder, viewed from the front.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm, S-C across fields.
References: RIC 108a (var cuirassed, front bust)
Size: 29mm, 20.8g
Scarce obverse legend and a rare bust type.
cf: Triskeles Auction, Sale 16 (6/3/2016), Lot #299

And some other victories in not sure if they are associated with anything in particular...

Maybe for his coming to power?

Trajan, Ruled 98-117 AD
AE As, Struck 99-100 AD
Obverse: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M, Head of Trajan, laureate, right.
Reverse: TR POT COS III P P, Victory, draped, advancing left, holding shield inscribed SPQR in right hand and palm in left, S-C across field.
References: RIC II Trajan 417


Nero, AE Dupondius
Struck 62-68 AD, Lugdunum (Lyon) Mint
Obverse: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P, Head of Nero, laureate, left; small globe at point of neck.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left, S-C in fields, II in exergue.
References: RIC I 410; Lyon 81; BMCRE 350; Cohen 346
Size: 29mm, 14.84g

(probably for being so cool)

Divus Augustus, Died 14 AD
AE As, Restoration Issue,
Struck under Titus 80-81 AD, Rome Mint
Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left.
Reverse: IMP T VESP – AVG REST, Victory alighting left, holding shield inscribed SP/QR, S-C across fields.
References: RIC Titus 446

 

Given how frequently Septimius Severus issued "Victory" coins referring to specific military victories, should I interpret a Victory coin like the one I posted above, from the same general time-period but omitting any such specific reference, as simply celebrating the concept of military victory in general, and/or all recent victories collectively?

 

Hip, Hip, Hip, and a Hooray- Three Victorias (Roman) and an Earlier Nike (Greek):



Time of Claudius-Nero. Philippi, Macedonia. Circa AD 48-61. Victory standing left on base, holding wreath and palm; VIC-AVG across fields / COHOR PRAE PHIL; Three standards. 19 mm. 4.89 g.




Otho (69 AD). Denarius. Rome. January 15 - March 9, 69 AD. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P; Bare, bewigged head of Otho right / VICTORIA OTHONIS; Victory advancing right, holding wreath in right hand and palm over left shoulder. 18 mm. 2.99 g.




Vespasian (69-79 AD). Denarius. Rome. 72/73 AD. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII; Laureate head of Vespasian right / VICTORIA – AVGVSTI; winged Victory advancing right, shouldering a palm frond, crowning a standard. 17.50 mm. 2.9 g. From the series of Judaea Capta coins for the victory over Jerusalem.




PONTOS, Amisos. Circa 85-65 BC. Aegis with Gorgoneion at center / AMI-ΣO(Y); Nike advancing right, holding palm frond resting on left shoulder. Monograms in left and right fields. 20.71 mm. 6.94 g.

 

Certainly some coins honor specific victories but I still believe many/most are a way of saying, "Lady Victory, be with the Augustus." I do not see this as directed so much at the action that brought them to the position but looking forward to defeating enemies of Rome which is necessary if you are going to keep the job. How many emperors had a victory in a 'real' civil war to celebrate? Septimius did. More got the office when the previous ruler was killed by friend or foe on short notice leaving the job to be had without formal battles.

 

Very nice and rare coin @Alegandron . In 1986, H.H.Gillijam studied in detail the coinage of this usurper. He had listed a total of 365 Antoniniani worldwide with 56 obverse dies and 59 reverse dies.

 

Wow, thanks for the info.

 

Thank you very much. I hadn't thought about the legend as intended to be forward-looking as much as retrospective, but it certainly makes sense.