In memoriam: forum member Severus Alexander

[TIF]

Treasured forum member @Severus Alexander passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at home with his beloved wife and their children. Sev died a couple of weeks after celebrating his 53rd birthday with a family re-watch of The Empire Strikes Back. He’s survived by his wife and children, his parents, and many other family members, friends, colleagues, and students who were touched by his love and kindness, by his brilliance and fervent belief in the power of education.

 

Ever since his terminal cancer diagnosis in 2021, Sev embodied the pithy advice to Keep Calm and Carry On. With humour, optimism, and Monty Python quotes, he repeatedly problem-solved his symptoms and side-effects, until finally even he could no longer bear the struggle. Though his family and friends grieve his loss greatly, they find comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering. During his life, Sev quietly collected accomplishments like others collect souvenirs, with academic achievements in philosophy, science, and music. He was a serious overachiever, but only those closest to him would ever know, since he never made a fuss about it. His life was a masterclass in humility, rationality, and quiet strength. And love. Lots and lots of love.

 

Sev and his wife met in 1997 at the University of North Carolina. She was studying philosophy in the UK and won a prize to visit any university in the world for a semester and she happened to choose UNC. Sev, a born and bred Calgarian, was in the UNC PhD program and he kindly gave the unknown visiting student a ride from the airport and offered her a spot on his couch. To cut a long story short, they were engaged in 1998 and married in Banff, AB in a surprise ceremony in 1999. They welcomed a son in 2003 and a daughter in 2007. On December 27, Sev and his wife would have celebrated 25 years of happy marriage.

 

Sev had many passions. Before cancer symptoms made it too difficult, he played the piano and had just started taking singing lessons. (He often jokingly impersonated Pavarotti.) He enjoyed listening to music from Beethoven to Boney M, and was a huge history buff, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm whenever someone showed an interest in Ancient Rome– and of course coins… ancient and medieval coins.  A loyal Calgary Flames fan, Sev would be seriously ticked if this were the season they won the Stanley Cup.

 

Sev frequently took action for the greater good. For example, in 2015, he laboured tirelessly to get political parties to cooperate to elect the first local non-Conservative MP in many years. He also volunteered with a couple of Green Party election campaigns. He spoke up — in person, in print, on the radio — against science-deniers of various persuasions (including anti-vaxxers, creationists, climate change deniers, and homeopaths). But he was always polite. He knew the strength of clarity, patience, and above all, supporting his positions with sound arguments and well-researched evidence.

 

A dedicated and well-loved teacher and professor of philosophy at a Canadian university, Sev believed (based on empirical evidence, of course!) that adding explicit critical thinking instruction into educational programs would go far in helping make the world a better place. He led the effort to have critical thinking added as a foundational requirement for the BA degree. Before he became ill, he laid the groundwork for getting critical thinking into the K-12 curriculum.

...

Sev was one of my best coinfriends.  Frankly, he was one of my best friends, period, without qualification.   Remembering all the good times will help ease the sorrow, so let’s all raise a glass and share favorite memories of this wonderful man. 💙

Edited December 16, 2024 by TIF

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

That's very sad news and condolences to the family.  He will be missed.

[TIF]

There are just so many fond memories and stories I could share.

Sev was so talented and yet so modest.  A few years back he helped host/moderate an international academic symposium at his institution and I tuned in to the live online proceedings.  He was amazing!  So at ease and engaging, like he was born to host a radio or TV event. 

Here’s a favorite memory, the first Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada auction (Sev started the company).  Here’s my post about it– on CoinTalk because it was pre-NumisForum days.

 

---------

(originally posted 12/1/2018 on CoinTalk)

1, 1, 1, 1, 1, Won

This coin is very special for completely non-numismatic reasons. It's historically important... but not for its ancient history. The value is in how it represents friendship, camaraderie, and for what will hopefully someday be a fondly-remembered ancient coin milestone.

Here's the coin. It's not rare. It's not in great condition. There are about a hundred of them for sale right now on Vcoins and most of them are much nicer, albeit more expensive. I wanted it anyway and it was my most important target in today's Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada auction, the brand-spankin' new Canadian auction house created by CoinTalk's @Severus Alexander.

GAUL, Massalia
c. 350-150 BCE
AR obol; 0.59 gm, 10mm
Obv: youthful male head left (Apollo?)
Rev: wheel with four spokes; M A within two quarters
Ref: Depeyrot, Hellénistiques, Type 18; SNG Leipzig 13.
AMCC Auction 1, lot 1, 1 December 2018

Bidder #1 placed bid #1 in AMCC auction #1, lot #1, and on December 1, won. 🤣

How's that for a silly reason to want a coin? Silly though it sounds, it truly was important to me .

I've been planning to win this lot months before Sev had even determined which coin would be lot #1! I'm greatly relieved it wasn't a dekadrachm . The moment his auction was posted I staked my claim on lot #1 with a generous bid.

Over the next week or two I placed another seven pre-bids. Today I bid live on many more lots. Happily, I now have several coins formerly belonging to various CoinTalk members-- @zumbly, @Severus Alexander, @Justin Lee, and @jamesicus . Yay! I went a bit overboard today but since I lost my higher-dollar targets that takes the edge off, plus the prices were still comparatively low and the exchange rate is very favorable. I normally wouldn't post a coin before it is in hand but I've already waited soooo long for this and couldn't resist posting just this one .

I've made several close friends thanks to ancient coin collecting and it was a completely unexpected benefit of the hobby! Truly, some of the finest people I know collect ancient coins. Congratulations to @Severus Alexander on the inaugural AMCC auction. Cheers, and here's to many more .

 

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Edited December 15, 2024 by TIF

[Phil Davis]

We knew it was coming, but it's still hard to hear. I didn't know Sev super well, but we interacted often enough over the years for me to know what a great guy he was. He will indeed be missed.

[seth77]

Really sad news, I talked to him this August, he let me know about wanting to host a new AMCC auction on biddr soon. Very very sad.

[Roman Collector]

He was a great asset to the online coin community. Those who knew him respected and loved him. May his memory be a blessing. 

[Ryro]

Sevy was one of the most knowledgeable, funniest, and friendliest collectors that I ever came across. I would always blame him for getting me involved in the coin collecting community and the giveaways that I do. 7 or 8 years ago on CT I would mostly just post crummy coins that I'd cleaned up or bought in lots asking what they were. No connection to the community just a passion for ancient history. Then Sev did a give away of a coin that he purchased in a lot. First one to name the RIC # got the coin. I was a total noob and got the answer only half correct. He was still kind enough to say, "eh, I know what you meant", and give me what was my most cherry coin to date anyways. 

Constantius II

As Caesar, AD 324-337. Æ Follis, Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 326. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left / Camp-gate with two turrets and no door; star above; PTR(pellet-within-crescent). RIC VII 480; LRBC 29.

Ex: @Severus Alexander

He and I pretty much kept up our friendship and PMd regularly after that. Of course I still have it, as well as a ultra rare provincial Hadrian that he gifted me as a friend along with my purchases in his first AMCC auction. He couldn't believe it didn't sell and wanted someone that would enjoy it to have it:

CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea: Hadrian (117-138) AR Drachm, issued 128-138. 2.94g, 17mm. Obv: Laureate head right Rev: ΥΠATOC Γ Π-ATHΡ ΠAT, Mount Argaeus surmounted by a statue of Helios, holding globe and sceptre. RPC III, 3119, S 263a, Metcalf Conspectus 106, Ganschow 184b Rare! (only 2 specimens in RPC) ex @Severus Alexander

He was always so giving with his knowledge of coins to a new collector to the coins he gave me before we'd started our friendship and after.

Our loss of such an outgoing and brilliant man leaves the coin collecting community and the world in general a bit stupider and senseless a place. I'm very grateful to have gotten to interact with such a great guy for the time that I did. If your listening/reading on high, you're well missed, good buddy. 

[AussieCollector]

Thank you for sharing. My sincere condolences. May Sev rest in peace.

I hope you're holding up ok.

[Parthicus]

Very sad news, though not really unexpected.  @Severus Alexander generously donated the prize in a contest on CoinTalk, back in December 2020, that was run by @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix.  I ended up winning, to my surprise, and the prize was a $100 CAD credit in AMCC Auction 3.  I made good use of the credit to get this AR denarius of Juba I of Numidia:

Farewell to a valued coin-friend and just all-around good guy.

"Always look on the bright side of life...."

[Curtisimo]

SA was a good friend. I probably spoke with him more than anyone else about ancient coins. We used to email each other our upcoming coin targets and strategize our bids. I’ll miss messaging back and forth as we followed along with auctions. I’ll miss talking with him about coins, history, family, philosophy and any number of things we used to chat about. In general I’ll just miss him.

Im happy that over the years some of SA’s coins have ended up in my collection and some of mine ended up in his.

I received this coin in a private gift exchange SA and I did a few years ago. This coin perfectly represents his collection. He loved coins of Severus Alexander and he also had a fantastic eye for quality style portraits. This coin will always be my representative Severus Alexander denarius.

During that same exchange I got a lot of joy out of carving a box with his collection monogram on it to house the gifts I sent him. I really liked his monogram that he used for his collection. He was a very creative person.

SA also had an impressive knack for finding great bargains (I think many of us remember the $27 Themistokles!). I used to joke with him that he was a Coin Ninja because he could silently attack an auction and make away with all the great bargains that others missed.

I was really inspired by the grace with which he has carried himself the last few years. I can only hope that I can muster half of the dignitas that he showed when I approach my time. We love you SA and we will miss you.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Curtisimo

[Qcumbor]

I was devastated when I first heard that, even though it was predictable. But so soon ?

I've been privileged to meet @Severus Alexander in person in september 2022. He was already ill and new how much of a struggle it would be in the future, still he was very positive and showed a great sense of humour. We had a short but memorable moment together.

From our PMs I remember how knowledgeable he was, yet never showing off as some teachers do and never letting me feel talking with me would be a step down (and sure it was).

Sev has organized a few impressive auctions, and everybody could appreciate how well coins were described and how a skilled photographer he was. A few out of those I won from his various auctions:

Ex @zumbly :

 

The coin that had me falling in love with crispina

 

My preferred one in the bunch : Ex @Severus Alexander himself, won at a @Severus Alexander auction

 

Condolence to his wife and kids, from my wife and I

Q. 

Edited December 15, 2024 by Qcumbor

[TIF]

4 minutes ago, Curtisimo said:

(I think many of us remember the $27 Themistokles!)

Yes indeed!  I will find and post that story later.  I ended up snatching that coin in an AMCC auction.  Although it cost more than $27, it was still an excellent deal, and of course I value the extra bit of history from having been keenly spotted and acquired by Sev! 😄

 

15 minutes ago, AussieCollector said:

I hope you're holding up ok.

Thank you, Aussie ❤️.  It has been a tough year, losing Steve and Sev, with a serious illness in the family of another dear coin friend, and various problems of my own.  Here's hoping for a better 2025.

[Sulla80]

Thanks for sharing the news @TIF, very sorry to hear, and sincere condolences to his many friends and family.  Here is another coin - this one was lot 1 from AMCC auction 2 one of several that are I purchased from @Severus Alexander's 3 AMCC auctions.

GAUL, Massalia, c. 200-120 BCE, AR obol. 0.60g, 9mm.
Obv: Bare head of Apollo left
Rev: M A within wheel of four spokes.
Depeyrot, Marseille 31 From the JB (Edmonton) collection.
Obverse off-centre, but high grade, superb style, perfect metal, and spectacular toning.

[TIF]

28 minutes ago, Curtisimo said:

 

 

@Curtisimo, that box is absolutely jaw-dropping.  What an incredible gift you made!  That gift embodies everything we all love about you 💕.

Edited December 15, 2024 by TIF

[CPK]

So sorry to hear! And a bit of a shock too, even though I knew it would happen eventually. My sincere condolences to his friends and family, including you @TIF (thank you, by the way, for letting us all know!)

[AncientJoe]

A wonderfully fitting tribute, @TIF: RIP Sev, you will be sorely missed. 

[ominus1]

..i am saddened by this news...he was a fine person and coin collecting Friend...

[Ocatarinetabellatchitchix]

What a terrible news… He was surely the guy with the widest numismatic knowledge I ever known. When he offered to contribute for the quiz in 2020, he wanted to answer the questions just for fun… and beat everyone with a perfect score !!! We were working on an “interview with a member” for almost a year now, but sadly he didn’t have enough energy to complete it… At least this is a picture of his first coin; he acquired it in England on a trip with his family when he was only 13 years old.

 

Here is another coin he cherished a lot; an ex NAC dupondius used as his avatar here on Numisforums.

 

And finally, he generously gave me his permission to use many pictures of some coins from his collection for articles I wrote in French for a Canadian numismatic journal; maybe you will recognize his Valerian from Viminacium that he showed many times. It made the first page a few months ago. We will miss him so much, but so many good souvenirs we will keep. Thanks @TIF for the nice writing.

[TIF]

4 hours ago, AncientJoe said:

A wonderfully fitting tribute, @TIF:

1 hour ago, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

Thanks @TIF for the nice writing.

Thank you, AJ and Ocat, but I cannot take credit for the text-- I only lightly edited the obituary provided by his wife, primarily for privacy reasons.

[bcuda]

Such sad news , I was lucky enough to have had a few conversations with him when I was on Coin Talk.  I am so sorry for the loss to all his friends here and his family, I can tell by all the postings here that he left a hell of an impression on anyone he met. Again sorry for the loss.

[David Atherton]

Such sad news to hear. My condolences to his family and friends. He will greatly be missed here.

[robinjojo]

I only had the pleasure of exchanging postings with @Severus Alexander at Coin Talk and here for a limited time, but I was struck by his affable and knowledgeable qualities.  I can see that he touched many lives, and I am sure that his memory will continue whenever the conversation is about ancient coins.

My condolences to his family and friends.  

Edited December 16, 2024 by robinjojo

[DANTE]

This is sad news indeed. To be honest, I never had any personal interactions with him, but his posts always suggested to me what others have written before: that he was a very knowledgeable, patient, friendly person with a great sense of humour.     

My condolences to his wife, his children, and everyone who knew him and cared for him.

Edited December 16, 2024 by DANTE

[Tejas]

This is very said news. I didn't know @Severus Alexander personally and don't even know his real name, but I greatly enjoyed his posts and often benefited from his experise. My condolences to his family and friends.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Tejas

[akeady]

Sorry to hear this, my condolences to his family and friends.

ATB,
Aidan.