Watch List notes:

Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.20 g, 6h). Emesa mint. Struck AD 193. IMP CAE L • SEP • SE V PERT AVG, laureate head right / LEG • XIIII GEM • M • V •, TR P COS in exergue, aquila between two signa. RIC IV 358 (same dies as illustration); Calicó 2472; BMCRE 337 (Wars of the Succession; same dies); cf. Biaggi 1073 (Rome); Mazzini –. Toned with underlying luster. EF. Very rare.

This very rare and important aureus is one of only four recorded gold types in the extensive 'legionary' series issued by Severus at the very outset of his reign. According to Dio Cassius (XLVI, 46, 7), he paid an accession donative of 250 denarii (ten aurei) per man and in all likelihood the legionary coinage was specially struck for this purpose. Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix received special honors from the new emperor as he had been the commander of this unit at the time of his elevation to imperial status. Originally formed by Octavian, 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