Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 2 11 May 2018
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LYDIA. Sardis. Septimius Severus, 193-211. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 29 mm, 14.18 g, 7 h), Gaios Ioulios Krispos, archon, circa 193-195, but probably in late 193 or early 194. AYT•KAIC Λ CЄΠTIMI•CЄOYHPOC ΠЄPTINAΞ Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. ЄΠI•Γ•I•KPICΠOY•APX CAPΔIANΩN• / B•NЄΩKO/PΩN Two agonistic prize-urns set on table; below, two crossed palm fronds. BMC -. Imhoof-Blumer, KM -. Imhoof-Blumer, LS -. Lindgren I-III -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Leypold -. SNG München -. SNG Righetti -. SNG Turkey -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished and unique. An attractive coin with a lovely olive-green patina and a splendid portrait. Good very fine.
The unusual full name and the portrait style, which is reminiscent of the early Rome mint sestertii, date this coin to the beginning of Septimius' reign. Considering that the governor of the province of Asia, Asellius Aemilianus, commanded the army of Pescennius Niger in Asia Minor, we can safely assume that this issue must have been struck after the disastrous defeats of the forces of Niger against the army of Septimius Severus at Cyzicus in mid 193 and Nikaia in the winter of 193/4. The fact that Sardis also struck a stylistically closely related coin for Clodius Albinus Caesar, with a similarly long name, gives us a terminus ante quem for the issue of 195. Unlike Byzantion, which refused to abandon the cause of Niger and was consequently besieged and destroyed by Septimius in 195, Sardis appears to have been one of the many cities to have sided with the winner. It is therefore quite likely that this issue was struck shortly after the battles of Cyzicus and Nikaia to assure Septimius Severus and his co-emperor Clodius Albinus of the loyalty of the city and to avoid punishment for the previous support of Niger.
The unusual full name and the portrait style, which is reminiscent of the early Rome mint sestertii, date this coin to the beginning of Septimius' reign. Considering that the governor of the province of Asia, Asellius Aemilianus, commanded the army of Pescennius Niger in Asia Minor, we can safely assume that this issue must have been struck after the disastrous defeats of the forces of Niger against the army of Septimius Severus at Cyzicus in mid 193 and Nikaia in the winter of 193/4. The fact that Sardis also struck a stylistically closely related coin for Clodius Albinus Caesar, with a similarly long name, gives us a terminus ante quem for the issue of 195. Unlike Byzantion, which refused to abandon the cause of Niger and was consequently besieged and destroyed by Septimius in 195, Sardis appears to have been one of the many cities to have sided with the winner. It is therefore quite likely that this issue was struck shortly after the battles of Cyzicus and Nikaia to assure Septimius Severus and his co-emperor Clodius Albinus of the loyalty of the city and to avoid punishment for the previous support of Niger.