Septimius Severus               193 - 211 A.D.     

 

Septimius Severus was the remaining emperor of a bloody shakeout period which saw the violent demise of no less than five emperors in less than two years. A Governor in a sleepy quarter of the Empire, Septimius saw a golden opportunity after the murder of Pertinax (one of the luckless emperors) and with the pretense of avenging his murder he recruited an army and advanced towards Rome. The situation in Rome, meanwhile, was so chaotic that the Senate saw no way out of it but to save their skin by turning tail and declaring Septimius emperor in absentia. He would arrive a few days later to restore order to the city where he was welcomed as a savior. However, any love the Senate had for him quickly dissipated as he too, like Commodus before him (the last emperor of durable reign) was to systematically undermine and terrorize its members. Fortunately for them, Septimius would die a few years later during a campaign against the Scots in Britain.

 

AR Denarius 193--211 A.D.

17 mm.

Obv. SEVERVS PIVS AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. ADVENT AVGG: Severus on prancing horse right, led by soldier carrying a vexillum (refers to the arrival of Severus and Caracalla in Rome after the Eastern Campaign in 202 A.D.)

C. 1, Van Meter 3

AR Denarius 193--211 A.D.

17 mm.

Obv. L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII: Laureate head right

Rev. ADVENTI AVG FELICISSIMO: Severus on hose prancing right (refers to the arrival of Severus in Rome in 196 A.D., preventing the city's capture by Albinus; "To the most fortunate arrival of the Emperor")

C. 6, Van Meter 4

AR Denarius 193--211 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII: Laureate head right

Rev. ADVENTI AVG FELICISSIMO: Severus on horse prancing right (refers to the arrival of Severus in Rome in 196 A.D., preventing the seizure of the city by by Albinus; thus "To the most fortunate arrival of the Emperor")

C. 6, Van Meter 4

AR Denarius 193--211 A.D.

Alexandria (?) ca. 195 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. ARAB ADIAB COS II PP: Two seated captives on either side of a trophy (Refers to victory over Niger in a civil war, the victory being presented as being over the Arabians and Adiabenians, who had aided Niger's cause and were punished as a result)

RIC 346, Van Meter 11v.

AR Denarius 193--211 A.D.

17 mm.

Obv. L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII: Laureate head right

Rev. MVNIFICENTIA AVG: Elephant walking right (Refers to games held to celebrate the victory over Albinus)

C. 349, Van Meter 88

Roman Imperial Septimius Severus

AR Denarius 193-211 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. SEVERVS PIVS AVG

Laureate head right

Rev. RESITVTOR VRBIS

Roma seated left, holding palladium and spear, shield below

Van Meter 135, RIC 288