Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial - Augustus - J

Lot 4561    SESSION 17 (11.30AM THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER)    Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial - Augustus - Jul

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $150

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, (A.D. 193-211), AE as, Rome mint, issued A.D. c.204-5, (10.09 g), obv. laureate head of Septimius Severus to right, around SEVERVS PIVS AVG, rev. around FELICITAS above, SAECVLIS in exergue, S C across, Severus, Caracalla and Geta seated right on platform, before them an officer and at foot of platform a citizen dipping hand into urn, (S.-, RIC 823, C.139). Struck on a full flan, fine or better and very rare.

This issue is rarely seen as an official issue, no examples noted in Coin Archives. Most examples known are contemporary cast Gallic imitations of the Rome mint issue of AD 205, with many featuring Geta on their obverse. According to Curtis Clay, these imitations are part of a series of Gallic imitations of Roman asses, which are primarily made from Severan prototypes. These imitations are all casts, presumably made from official issues. As such, many of these, even in the British Museum, are incorrectly identified as official Roman issues (see Hunter III p. 74, n. 35).