Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire

Septimius Severus, 193 – 211. Medallic dupondius 200-201, Æ 17.29 g. SEVERVS AVG – PART MAC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. RESTI – TV[T]OR VR – BIS S C Roma, helmeted, draped, seated r. on shield, holding palladium in r. hand and spear in l.; facing her, Septimius Severus, in military attire, standing l., holding patera in r. hand on altar and spear in l. C 610. BMC p. 321, 11 note (this coin). RIC 757a, note (this coin).
Extremely rare. Struck on a medallic flan and with a very important and
interesting reverse type. Wonderful brown-green patina, an attempt
at piercing, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Ars Classica XVI, 1933, 1944 and Sotheby's 21 June 1990, Hunt, 763 sales.The dupondius commemorates Severus' restoration of the Pantheon. Buit by Agrippa between 27 and 5 BC, the temple was totally reconstructed by Hadrian in the first years of his reign. To evidence his high esteem for his predecessor, Hadrian did not put his own name on the new building, and reproduced the original Agrippa inscription on the architrave. Contrariwise Severus, following his minor restoration works, and anxious to be remembered by posterity, ordered that his name be sculpted right below that of Agrippa. His behaviour irked the Romans who derisively nicknamed him "herba murorum" - grass of the walls.