Septimius Severus Legionary Denarius.

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,199
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 1:07 pm I've been on the lookout a while for a legionary Denarius of Septimius Severus but they can be quite expensive and difficult to find with readable legends. I managed to snag this one recently with imo a nicely balanced ob/rev. The legionary coins of Septimius Severus were minted to pay tribute to the legions that assisted his rise to the purple. The op coin was minted in Rome 193AD in honour of Septimius's own legion LEG XIIII GEMMV (Legio XIV Gemina Martia Vitrix) being stationed at Carnuntum. The Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix legions symbol was capricorn. In 117-118 AD, Carnuntum became the permanent quarters of Legio XIV Gemina where it stayed for three centuries until the frontier collapsed in 430AD. Obverse..Laureate head of Septimius Severus, facing right. Legend: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG...Imperator Caesar Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax Augustus. Supreme commander (Imperator), Caesar, Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax, emperor (Augustus). Reverse..Legionary eagle facing left, between two standards. Legend: LEG XIIII GEM M V TR P COS...Legio Quarta Decima Gemina Martia Victrix. Tribunicia Potestate, Consul. 14th martial and victorious twin legion. Holder of tribunician power, consul. Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. AR Denarius (3.26 gm, 18mm). Rome mint. Struck 193 AD. Obv.: IMP CAEL SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right. Rev.: LEG XIIII GEM M V / TR P COS, legionary eagle between two standards. RIC 14; RSC 272; BMCRE 19. VF. Report this Post to the Staff

Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 1:36 pm A successful hunt, Paul. Well done. Impressive. Report this Post to the Staff
circusmax120 Valued Member United States 319 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 1:52 pm Wowwww, Paul. Awesome Severus! You did well, my friend. I have had only one Septimius in my collection. Like yours, a denarius (pictured below), I sold it (along with all of my smaller varieties) when I decided to focus on realistic portraits in the larger coins. As can be clearly seen in comparison, the portrait on my denarius is far more stylized. The depiction on your specimen bears all the hallmarks of the realistic interpretation of the emperor. Especially the cheekbone, flesh of the face, hair, and beard. Splendid acquistion, Paul. Congrats on adding it to the fold! Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 5:45 pm Thanks Bob & Mike.. I was quite excited to pickup this coin as I'd been overdid on numerous occasions.... My birth sign is capricorn so the op will hold a special place in my cabinet...Although the XIIII legion coins are the more common type they're still quite difficult to find with readable legends.. I would just like to say thanks to @maridvmvn who helped me with the purchase being a very knowledgeable collector of this type..Thanks Martin. Neat coin Mike!...I've always wondered if the bearded Roman Emperors waxed their beards into pointed protrusions, the vikings did... Report this Post to the Staff
circusmax120 Valued Member United States 319 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 6:14 pm Waxed Viking beards. shaking head There is simply something wrong with the idea of well-coiffed Vikings. I mean, Septimius? Yeah. I can see it...but Eric Bloodaxe? Ivar the Boneless? Gunnar Hamundarson? Certainly not! Paul, the more I look at the portrait on your denarius the more impressed I am. The proportions of the face are tight! It really gives off a truthful vibe. I'm inclined to believe we're looking at the real Septimius here. I wonder if those same qualities can be found on a larger flan. I'll certainly be looking! Report this Post to the Staff
Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 12/10/2022 11:12 pm Congratulations on the acquisition of the legionary Denarius of Septimius Severus, Paul. The obverse and reverse are indeed nicely balanced, and it is a very attractive coin with super detail. With your birth-sign being Capricorn it is the icing on the cake. It also proves that waiting for the right coin is worthwhile. I only have a couple of denarii and one of them is this Septimius Severus. I had been reading an article about Alex G Malloy and his contribution to the world of ancient coins and was intrigued to read that he is also a keen gardener, with hostas being a major interest. My wife has three that she has tended for decades, but Alex Malloy collected over three thousand. One that he engineered and introduced has gold leaves and white edges which he named "Electrum Stater", and Hosta Society members had no clue to its meaning. At the time I had been looking at the Septimius denarius which was described as Ex Alex Malloy and buying it seemed like the right thing to do. It's the only time I have bought a coin because of a horticultural link. Septimius Severus. Denarius. Rome mint. AD 198-200. Obverse: His laureate head right. Reverse: Aequitas standing almost facing, head left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Silver. Diameter: 17-18mm. Weight: 3.06gm. Reference: RIC 122c. Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 12/11/2022 05:59 am Thanks Jim... Very nice Denarius there and what an interesting back story as to why you purchased it..Thanks for sharing. Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 12/11/2022 08:56 am Quote: Alex G Malloy and his contribution to the world of ancient coins. Big contributor to the world of antiquities, including weaponry, too. I occasionally include reference numbers from his 1993 Ancient and Medieval Art and Antiquities XXIV: Weapons in my cataloging. Report this Post to the Staff
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