Ebay: Unique Sestertius of Septimius Severus

Recently I came across what was described as a unique sestertius of Septimius Severus, which should be capable of being viewed at this link:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Septimius-...ted/153212722419?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

The coin ended up being sold to a nominee of the seller - at least that's what I would guess from the fact that the buyer purchases 95% of his ebay items from this small time seller. Obviously the bidding wasn't substantial enough for the seller.

I might have bid more for the coins, but I was a bit suspicious - it just did not make sense that this should pop up all of a sudden. The bust type seemed ok for ten years in, which is what I understood the reverse was commemorating, but the inscription was for an earlier time. However, if there is a reasonable liklihood of the coin being genuine I would approach the buyer and see if it is possible to work out a deal for the coin.

The inscription just doesn't look right - what do you think?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Based on the patina, corrosion, wear, and surfaces and strike, I say its either real or a pretty damn good fake. Probably real, though Im far from knowledgeable on Severan coinage. If offered to me, and the price was right, I might have bought this as a genuine coin.

 

Are these the things that gave you pause?

1) An unlisted variety appearing from a major dealer? They see and are offered thousands of coins. This is from a small dealer of primarily military memorabilia.
2) A 250+ euro coin offered by a primarily sub 20 euro seller.
3) The obverse is heavily corroded. The reverse is heavily encrusted, except for the valuable part: the inscription, which has clear lettering and smooth fields.

 

It appears to be authentic, but I don't know how it got into that seller's hands.

 

Blake Davis, $289.00 for a sestertius that has lost so much detail seems like a lot of money, regardless of rarity. Just because it isn't listed by anyone doesn't mean it's unique.

 

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=116887.0

 

Interesting coin. Knowing it is an unknown combination I'm wary of the lettering, that's flat, shiny and clear, because the letters are different from the coins of Marcus Aurelius/ Cos III, but not very different from the Votis Decennalibus denarius of Septimius Severus I saw on Wildwinds. By the way, the seller doesn't describe the coin, only says it's unique.

I'd want to know how it may have been made, if it was forged. Was the base another sestertius of Septimius Severus, that was engraved with new text, or was it made from combined reproduced dies? (Or is it a contemporary imitation?)
In that case, does the obverse fit with the reverse? The only text shown on the obverse is "Sept Sev Pe - rt". This later emperor was born Lucius Septimius Severus 145 AD in Leptis Magna, now Al-Khums in Libya. He became emperor on April 14, 193 as successor of Didius Julianus, but presented himself as an admirer of the short-lived emperor Pertinax, a stern general and civil servant of advanced years. He avenged his murder by executing his killers, and even took his name Pertinax as an addition to his own. However, on his coins he only used the name Pertinax (judging from Wildwinds) until 198, whereas his decennalia (tenth year as emperor) were in 202/203.

 

Personally, I am not a fan of the lettering fonts. Seems terribly crude for SS. My uneducated opinion would be a re-engraved reverse. I will state I am not an expert in the series, but if offered to me in a $25 junk box that reverse would give me pause, let alone the selling price.

 

By the way, this is the coin in question, picture edited by me. Or shouldn't I post this? I feel some reluctance in the other contributors.

 

I dont have a problem with the reverse lettering. Some of these types can be very crude. What gives me pause is the obverse portrait, which really seems provincial. Also the obverse lettering is crude and not as refined as the reverse. Its odd to say the least. Could be an ancient forgery, a new type or a modern creation. I could not say which, but it is interesting at the very least. If more pop up on the market the answer would be easy. If not....

 

I see nothing about the coin that strikes me as in keeping with official Septimius Severus issues in terms of style or type. I don't know if it was tooled from an earlier Antonine coin or a barbarous copy. I don't know if it is ancient or modern. All I know is that I would pass on it. I am not an expert of such things but Curtis Clay often watches the Forvm posts on such things so I hope he posts on it.

 

Thanks Blake for sharing this coin.
The central point is characteristic of Aurelius' reign, not of Septimius.

 

As Dion Cassius mentioned the decennalia were celebrated the 9th year of reign, what's confirmed by Septimius coins in 202, then the obverse should be SEVERVS PIVS AVG. What we can read of the obverse legend indicates [L] SEPT SEV PERT [IMP ...] that was used from 294 to 200.
Am I wrong ?

 

Sorry... L SEPT SEV PERT IMP... was used from 194 to 200 of course !
I have the feeling to have spoil this thread, sorry. I wrote much too quickly.
Surprisingly, on some denarii from Laodicea a central point appear sometimes :
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4394847
And they were dated 198-202 according to Mattingly ...

 

Exactly, Aestimare, that was my thought too, PERT excludes 202, so: fake.

 

But only on eastern coins? The inscription is what made me doubt the coin - but the bust type, portrait is spot on, if the inscription is ok then I would be much more inclined to think it real. After all how could they get the bust type correct?

 

Earlier IMP dated sestertii were more likely to have the PE-RT split and it is common to have lost the numerals themselves so all we can do is guess unless we find a die duplicate. Below are some of my PE-RT split sestertii. I do not see the style as at all correct.

 

You are right about the split - I'll check it out tonight.

As to bust type see this coin from CNG:

https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=162693

If you go to my conversation "An Unlisted Sestertius of Septimius Severus" there is a photograph of a sestertius of Septimius Severus with a PAX reverse, which is "IMP X" which would have been about two years or so prior to this coin. I also have a rather scarce sestertius of Septimius Severus with a "DI PATRII" reverse with a similar bust type, which is an indication that this bust type was used about the time that the "PRIMI DECEN" coin would have been struck.

 

Sorry for posting twice - this is exactly why I like ancient coins - where else would have a discussion like this?

By the way, these are terrific sestertii - I have been searching for a "panther drinking from a cup" sestertii of Septimius Severus for years now. I had one decades ago but unhappily Isold it before deciding to focus on the sestertii of the family of Septimius. One will show up sooner or later!

 

or this one from CNG - it is very close I think:

https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=343406