★ Possibly One of Just 3 Known Examples ★

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 203. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head to right / VICTORIA PARTHICA MAXIMA, Victory advancing to left, holding wreath and palm. RIC 297 = C. 747 = BMCRE p. 223, note to 365 = Biaggi 1113 = Calicó 2567; Roma III, lot 500 (£30,000) = Heritage 3066, lot 30117; Hill 678. 7.40g, 21mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; almost invisible marks to rev. Extremely Rare; possibly only the third known example.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

Curiously, Calicó offers a rarity of ‘S5’ for this type, while in RIC it is noted as ‘R’, yet both of these refer to the same specimen, that is also the Cohen and the Biaggi example. No references to other examples of the type except the Roma III - Heritage 3066 specimen could be identified at the time of cataloguing.

Septimius Severus’ Parthian campaign was concluded in 198 with the capture of the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon. On this occasion Septimius was acclaimed imperator for the eleventh time, and he received the title Parthicus Maximus. His successful campaign was celebrated on coinage over the next few years, and an arch was erected in Rome in commemoration of the event in 203. In the wake of his great triumph, Septimius elevated Caracalla, who had campaigned with him in the east, to co-augustus.