The Stack’s Bowers Galleries August ANA World’s Fair of Money is now
available to view online here. Today’s highlight is a rare and very appealing Aureus of Septimius Severus. Lucius Septimius Severus claimed the title
of Emperor by outmaneuvering all rival claims to the title. Following the
Praetorian Guard’s assassination of the emperor Pertinax, succession was
auctioned to the highest bidder. As one of the wealthiest men in the Empire
Didius Julianus made his bid for the throne by promising each soldier in the
guard 25,000 sestertii. The Praetorians accepted this offer and proclaimed
Didius as Emperor. When news of this auction reached the three major generals
campaigning in the provinces (Pescennius Niger in Syria, Clodius Albinus in
Britannia, and Septimius Severus in Pannonia [Danube Frontier]) civil war
erupted in the Empire. Quickly securing an alliance with Albinus, Severus
marched on Rome and executed Didius Julianus. He then attacked and easily
defeated Niger, and as a coup de gras turned on his one-time ally Albinus (who
had briefly been declared Caesar under Septimius), defeating him on the Rhine
Frontier.
In order to placate the Roman populace after these tumultuous times Septimius
Severus promulgated a message of renewed prosperity; “Felicitas Saeculi” is the
reverse legend of this coin. A common form of propaganda, coinage in the Roman
Empire provided a way for the emperor to inspire hope and confidence after a violent
overthrow of the previous regime. The obverse features a standard image of
Septimius Severus, wearing a laureate crown and cuirass to signify his military
prowess. The reverse features the message stated above, loosely translated to
“Prosperity of the Age” and featuring the portraits of the emperor’s family.
His wife Julia Domna is at center, with his sons (both eventual Emperors) Geta
and Caracalla. This particular example is notable, with a few differences in
the reverse portraits (noted in Calico) that are not commonly found. The high
degree of scarcity coupled with the excellent condition create a highly
desirable coin.
Though our Stack’s Bowers Galleries August ANA World’s Fair of Money
Auction is no longer open for consignments, we are now accepting consignments
of world and ancient coins for our January 2017 New York International Auction
as well as Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our April 2017 Hong
Kong Showcase Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
