164
3181
Septimius Severus. Silver Denarius
(3.16 g), AD 193-211.
Rome, ca. AD
200/1. SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, lau-
reate head of Septimius Severus right.
Reverse:
RESTITVTOR VRBIS, emperor
standing facing, head left, sacrificing out
of patera over lighted altar, holding in-
verted spear. RIC 167a; BMC 202; RSC
599. Well struck with a finely defined
portrait, lightly toned.
Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value .................... $250 - 300
Ex A. Lynn Collection.
3182
Septimius Severus. Silver Denarius
(3.50 g), AD 193-211.
Rome, AD
203. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laure-
ate head of Septimius Severus right.
Reverse:
P M TR P XI COS III P P,
Fortuna seated left, holding rud-
der and cornucopiae; below seat,
wheel. RIC 189b; BMC 432-3; RSC
461. Lightly toned.
Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value ............... $200 - 250
Ex A. Lynn Collection.
3183
Septimius Severus. Silver Denarius (3.37 g), AD 193-211.
Rome,
AD 210/1. SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head of Septimius
Severus right.
Reverse:
VICTORIAE B-RIT, Victory seated left on
shield, balancing shield set on knee and holding palm. RIC 335;
BMC 61-2; RSC 731. Lightly toned.
Extremely Fine.
In AD 208 Septimius Severus led his legions into Britian with the
intent to subdue Caledonia. According to Dio Cassius, “Severus
invaded Caledonia. But as he advanced through the country he
experienced countless hardships in cutting down the forests, lev-
eling the heights, filling up the swamps, and bridging the rivers;
but he fought no battle and beheld no enemy in battle array”
(Romaika, lxxvii.13.1-2). Thus the Caledonians seemingly con-
ducted a successful guerrilla defense, although this did not pre-
vent them from eventually seeking terms in AD 210, which Severus
granted on condition they relinquish control of the Central Low-
lands. Later in the year the Caledonians joined with another tribe,
the Maeatae, revolted and resumed the war with the Romans.
During the entirety of the British campaign, Severus suffered heav-
ily from gout and had to be carried on a litter. He fell fatally ill
early in AD 211 and was evacuated to Eboracum, modern York,
where he died on 4 February. Although Caracalla continued to
campaign in Caledonia into AD 212, his attentions were called
for elsewhere and he soon made peace with the native Britons.
Estimated Value............................................................... $250 - 300
Ex A. Lynn Collection; Freeman & Sear 7 (22 February 2002), 505.
