Septimius Severus Denarius

"The Indulgence of the Augusti towards Carthage". The exact significance of the type is not known for certain, but it obviously commemorates an important event as attested by the fact that the type was used on Aurei, Sestertii and Asses as well as denarii. The general thought is that the type commemorates the building of or repair to an aquaduct, or perhaps to a possible remission of the taxes levied on the city of Carthage for its water supply.

Of the four denominations, the sestertii are the rarest, with only a few known examples, in fact the denomination is missing from the British Museum Collection. The asses are rare, but available with a little patience, in fact there was a very nice example in CNG Mail Bid Sale 60, lot 1748. The Aurei are also available with some patience and money.

The INDVLGENTIA type of Septimius is one of the most picturesque and also one of the most common (in silver) of the period. Most people don't realize though that there are 4 distinct reverse types as follows: 1) Dea Caelestis, looking front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a thunderbolt and sceptre; 2) Dea Caelestis, looking right, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a thunderbolt and sceptre; 3) (this coin) Dea Caelestis, looking front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a drum and sceptre; 4) Dea Caelestis, looking front, riding a lion leaping to the right, holding a drum, no sceptre. The first two varieties are the most common. Over the last 5 years I have probably seen over 100 of each variety. The third variety is very rare. I have only seen perhaps 5 of these over the last several years and I have been looking for them. The last variety I still haven't been able to locate an example for sale. If you have one, I'd at least like to photograph it. Similar type were also struck in the name of Caracalla, the other Augustus in 203 AD.

Interestingly, the direction of the deity's head appears to have a chronological significance. An examination of the dated bronze and gold reveals that the examples with the facing deity were struck late in 203 AD. Those with the right facing deity were struck early in 204 AD.

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