Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-194. IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right / LEG XIIII GEM M V, legionary eagle between two standards; TR P COS in exergue. RIC 14; BMCRE 19; RSC 272; Hill 43. 3.84g, 18mm, 6h.
Mint State; well detailed and in perfect state of preservation.
Ex collection of "eines hanseatischen Römerfreundes" (a Hanseatic Romanophile);
Ex Bankhaus H. Aufhäuser, Auction 13, 7 October 1997, lot 411.
Cassius Dio records that Septimius Severus paid an accession donative of 250 denarii (10 aurei) per soldier, and it is therefore highly likely that the Rome mint legionary issues were intended to satisfy this immediate requirement. The silver denarii were struck in vast quantities, with Legio VIII Augusta at Strasbourg being honoured with a particularly large issue, though not quite as large as that of Legio XIIII.
Legio XIV (or XIIII) Gemina Martia Victrix received special honours from the new emperor, perhaps reflected in the disproportionately large issue of coinage struck in its name, since Septimius had been the commander of this particular unit at the time of his elevation to imperial status. Tracing its foundation to Julius Caesar in 57 BC, this legion had participated in the invasion and conquest of Britain under Claudius and had gained its additional epithet of Martia Victrix for the vital role that it played in the defeat of the Icenian revolt led by Boudicca in 60 AD. XIV Gemina fought for Septimius on his march to Rome to overthrow rival Didius Julianus in 193, contributed to the defeat of the usurper Pescennius Niger in 194, and later probably fought in the Parthian campaign that ended with the sack of the Parthian capital Ctesiphon in 198.
Mint State; well detailed and in perfect state of preservation.
Ex collection of "eines hanseatischen Römerfreundes" (a Hanseatic Romanophile);
Ex Bankhaus H. Aufhäuser, Auction 13, 7 October 1997, lot 411.
Cassius Dio records that Septimius Severus paid an accession donative of 250 denarii (10 aurei) per soldier, and it is therefore highly likely that the Rome mint legionary issues were intended to satisfy this immediate requirement. The silver denarii were struck in vast quantities, with Legio VIII Augusta at Strasbourg being honoured with a particularly large issue, though not quite as large as that of Legio XIIII.
Legio XIV (or XIIII) Gemina Martia Victrix received special honours from the new emperor, perhaps reflected in the disproportionately large issue of coinage struck in its name, since Septimius had been the commander of this particular unit at the time of his elevation to imperial status. Tracing its foundation to Julius Caesar in 57 BC, this legion had participated in the invasion and conquest of Britain under Claudius and had gained its additional epithet of Martia Victrix for the vital role that it played in the defeat of the Icenian revolt led by Boudicca in 60 AD. XIV Gemina fought for Septimius on his march to Rome to overthrow rival Didius Julianus in 193, contributed to the defeat of the usurper Pescennius Niger in 194, and later probably fought in the Parthian campaign that ended with the sack of the Parthian capital Ctesiphon in 198.