New Septimius Severus Sestertius

[Julius Germanicus]

Here is my second purchase for my new "Yellow Orichalcum Sestertius collection" 🙂

This coin has obviously been harshly cleaned and the reverse is sub-par, but I could not resist simply because

- it was struck on a full size 34 mm flan while most contemporary Sestertii only reach an average 28-30 mm, and

- it almost reaches the full nominal weight of a Sestertius of one roman ounce (27,2 gr) while the average Severan piece is just 20-21 gr, plus

- it was struck in pure yellow Orichalcum with a high Zinc component while most Sestertii of the late 2nd century were made of a reddish alloy with a high copper content, and last but not least 

- it features a warrior-like cuirassed bust, a prototype of the soldier emperors that were to follow in the later third century, in the finest style of the period

L SEPT SEV PE-RT AVG IMP VIII - Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind

P M TR P IIII COS II P P S C - Victory, draped right breast bare, advancing left, holding wreath upward in outstretched right hand and cradling palm branch in left arm

Sestertius, Rome 196 A.D.

RIC 725; BMCRE 591 var (PERT); Cohen 420; Sear 6424; Banti 101 (14 specimens, same obverse die as illustrated)

While the Victory reverse is neither well preserved nor special in itself, it is tempting to see a promotion of the victory over Clodius Albinus achieved at the battle of Lugdunum in February of the year it was struck.

Please share your thoughts and Sestertii of Septimius Severus!

 

 

[AETHER]

I love cleaned Orichalcum, simply love it. Nice coin. 

[CPK]

Fantastic! You have an excellent eye for attractive portrait busts. That is definitely one of the finer Septimius Severus portraits you'll find.

[Julius Germanicus]

The Banti No.101 plate coin, ex William James Conte collection (Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 52, lot 505, 07.10.2009),  ex Michael Weller Collection collection (Triton VIII, lot 1040, 2005), ex Friends of the Romans collection (Münzen & Medaillen 92, lot 127, 2002), ex Dr. Meyer-Coloniensis III (Münz Zentrum 64, lot 378, 1988) and ex Münzen und Medaillen 52, lot 695, 1975 shows the quality of the obverse die:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by Julius Germanicus

[Marsyas Mike]

That's a lovely coin, @Julius Germanicus.  Earlier this year I got one too, not a pretty as yours, but stripped - I do like them yellow like this:

Septimius Severus Æ Sestertius (196 A.D.)  Rome Mint  L SEPT SEV PERT AV[G IMP VIII], laureate and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P IIII C]OS II P [P], S-C, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC IV 725; BMCRE 591-593; Cohen RSC 420. (19.24 grams / 28 x 26 mm) eBay May 2023       Lot @ $4.50

Die-Match Characteristics:

Obv: PE-RT break, R touches hair; laurel ties shallow J-curve.

Rev: Victory high-waisted with "hobble skirt" look at knees.

Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Classical Numismatic Group  Electronic Auction 503; Lot 403; 03.11.2021

Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction 3088; Lot 34149; 05.11.2020

[Al Kowsky]

[Octavius]

 

Sestertius of Septimius celebrating his victory in Britain.

[Limes]

Great addition, the cuirassed bust is really nice. 

Below is mine, but interestingly it ticks all your objections 🤣

CHECK (small size) - while most contemporary Sestertii only reach an average 28-30 mm, and

CHECK (lower weight) -  the average Severan piece is just 20-21 gr, plus 

CHECK (mine is green!) - while most Sestertii of the late 2nd century were made of a reddish alloy with a high copper content, and last but not least 

CHECK (a plain, laureate bust)- it features a warrior-like cuirassed bust, a prototype of the soldier emperors that were to follow in the later third century, in the finest style of the period

[Julius Germanicus]

Nevertheless a beautiful coin! The yellow tone is just a biased personal preference of mine 😏

[dougsmit]

There are two ways for a sestertius to be yellow.  I like the ones that never formed a patina due to the chemical nature of the water or soil in which they spent the intervening centuries.  I dispise the ones that had a patina but it was scrubbed away to make the old coin look new.  

Most of my coins have toned darker.  This is my favorite with the fancy bust. 

...and the most yellow (not a favorite mostly due to the terrible strike).