Severvs Pivs Avg - Mint Poll

Please comment now. One and all.

Okay. I see this can't be done just on the basis of style differences. This obverse inscription is dated in RIC to 201-202, and later. By that time the only eastern mint still used for his production in silver was Laodicea ad Mare. But I did not find this inscription in use there either. So it would seem the style features merely reflect the work of celators at Rome.

Sorry; didn't mean to spoil anyone's fun - I just really got into it. But I don't know my way around this era as much, so I'm still not sure of the final outcome. As for turning to the books, .... That's part of why I asked in the first place. Please forgive.

Ok. So time for the reveal. I am glad to say that one person got it correct.

I would disagree with the "I see this can't be done just on the basis of style differences" as I would be able to place one coin as coming from Laodicea-ad-Mare in A.D. 202 from these images alone and be able to identify the reverse type. THat is because this is a coin from the final issue from Laodicea-ad-Mare which only occured with this single reverse type.

Coin 2

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:- SEVERVS PIVS AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:- COS III P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 202
Ref:- RIC 526 (look on page 163). BMCRE 732-733 (page 299)



The other three coins come from Rome mint and show that the style of Rome is not quite as homogenous as one might think.

It is thought that by about A.D. 198 there was training of the engravers fro Laodicea-ad-Mare by those at Rome as the quality and consistency of their output though the eastern output still developes a different style. This style is quite distinct from any of the earlier issues from "Emesa" or "Laodicea-ad-Mare".

Now comes the hard part. There are no specific "tells" but I will do my best to describe things. I will admit that it took me about 2 years of studying and buying coins of the family of Septimius to be able to know for sure. These later issues (A.D> 198-202) are probably the ones that causes some people (including many dealers) the most confusion and not helped by some online resources such as Wildwinds still having some mis-attributed coins. I should probably go through them all and inform Dane.

The portraits tend to be slightly smaller but this is not instantly obvious unless they are side by side with others. The eyebrow tends to be this small crescent curve from the bridge of the nose to. The eyes are "different" bit I struggle to put it into words. The beard has the same point nature but the pointy curls tend to be tighter, thinner and curve slightly upwards.

Here is a coin from a slightly earlier issue. I hope you can see the similarity in this bust to 2 avove

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:- L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, laureate head right
Rev:- IVST-ITIA, Justitia (Justice) seated left with patera & scepter
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 199-202
Reference:- RIC 505. RSC 251



There is still variation in style. Studying as many correctly attributed examples as possible and them comparing with a similar obverse legend from Rome is the best way to learn.

Here is a XI PART MAX from Rome as a comparison

Obv:- L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, Laureate head right
Rev:- MARTI VICTORI, Mars standing right, holding spear and leaning on shield set on helmet
Minted in Rome, A.D. 198-200
References:- RIC 134, RSC 321a



I suspect that this exercise might not have been as useful as the Alexandrian example.

Anyone want more?

Yes I'd like some more please



Saludos Paul

Well I'm really interested Martin..

I wanted to try and summarise what I've learnt from you in this and the previous post PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

Rome----------Laodicea-ad-Mare

The 1st is my coin from the original post.. obverse only...and we know it's from the Rome mint.
The 2nd is your number 2 in this post...and we know its from the Laodicea-ad-Mare mint



Ok,,,markers..Slightly smaller portrait
..............The eyebrow tends to be a small crescent curve from the bridge of the nose to the back of the eye.
..............Beard.. pointy curls tend to be tighter, thinner and curve slightly upwards.

NEXT

These coins are from your previous post.

Alexandria----------Rome

Alexandrian eye is typically within an almond shaped recess and the style of engraving is much cruder and less refined than that of Rome.In my opinion these 2 markers need to be used together and not individually as the eye in your example number 4 in this post could cause confusion towards Alexandria until you incorporate the 2nd marker as the engraving is far too detailed.



Am I learning or am I a lost cause?

Thanks Saludos Paul