Septimius Severus, 193 – 211
Aureus 202, AV 7.19 g. SEVER P AVG P M – TR P X COS III Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. A – DVENT AVGG Severus, Caracalla and Geta galloping r., raising their r. hand in salute. C 2 var. (not cuirassed). BMC 230 note*. RIC 177b (this coin). Biaggi 1059 (this coin). Calicó 2424 (this coin illustrated). Very rare and possibly the finest specimen known of this interesting issue. A bold portrait and a finely detailed and symbolic reverse composition. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex Canessa sale 28th June 1923, Enrico Caruso, 413; Tkalec 9 May 2005, 296 and NAC 100, 2017, 544 sales. From the Caruso and Biaggi collection. The reverse of this beautiful aureus features the mounted figures of Severus in the center and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, at his sides. They raise their arms in a gesture of greeting or salute. Presumably they are meant to be greeting the unseen people of Rome since this coin was struck in AD 202 to celebrate the triumphant return of the emperor and his family to Rome. During this important visit to the imperial capital, Severus assumed the consulship for the third time (the first time alongside Caracalla) and celebrated his decennalia (ten-year anniversary) of his reign. There is an important disconnection between the reverse legend and the type that underlies the deep animosity that we know existed between Severus' sons. While the type depicts both Geta and Caracalla with their father, the legend only mentions Severus and Caracalla - the two Augusti (AVGG). Severus' youngest son Geta, who only held the position of Caesar (i.e., junior emperor) at the time this coin was struck, is ignored. This disparity of power led to jealousy and discord between the brothers. In an attempt to alleviate the tension between the two, Severus at last elevated Geta to Augustus in A.D. 209, but this failed to solve the problem. Less than a year after Severus died in AD 211, the resentful Caracalla had arranged the murder of his younger brother. While the obverse portrait is well-executed with the wonderful deep drilling of the curls of hair typical of Severan sculptural art, the reverse is most impressive for the level of detail achieved on the small figures of the imperial family. Even at this small scale, Severus is clearly identified in the center by his beard. The pleats of the riders' cloaks and the manes of the horses are also fully engraved.

Graded Ch AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 5/5, NGC certification number 6159320-013.