The Dated Coins of Septimius Severus


Year Tribunican Consulate Imperator Other Titles
193 TRP COS IMP, IMP II AVGVSTVS
194 TRP II COS II IMP III, IIII PM, PP
195 TRP III IMP V, VI, VII PARTHICVS ARABICVS, PARTHICVS ADIABENICVS
196 TRP IIII IMP VIII
197 TRP V IMP VIIII, X
198 TRP VI XI PART MAX
199 TRP VII
200 TRP VIII
201 TRP VIIII
202 TRP X COS III
203 TRP XI
204 TRP XII
205 TRP XIII
206 TRP XIIII
207 TRP XV
208 TRP XVI
209 TRP XVII
210 TRP XVIII BRIT
211 TRP XVIIII


193

 Obv: IMPCAELSEPS EVPERTAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: LEG V III AVG - Legionary eagle between two standards. TRPCOS in exergue.
This coin honors Legion VIII Augusta, which was stationed in Upper Germany.
VM.63/11, SR.1759, RSC.267, RIC.11

194

 Obv: LSEPTSEVPE [RTAVGIMPIIII] - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPII COSIIPP - Minerva standing half-left holding a spear and a round shield.

VM.99/2, SR.-, RSC.381, RIC.49

Obv: IMPCAELSEPSEV PERTAVGCOSII - Laureate head right.
Rev: VICTORS E VERAVG - Victory walking left holding wreath in her outstretched right hand, and a palm frond in her left.
Refers to the defeat of Niger, which left Severus the undisputed master of Rome - at least until the break with Albinus in 195. RSC says Emesa mint, VM says Laodicea ad Mare.
VM.168, SR.-, RSC.749, RIC.428

195

 Obv: LSEPTSEVPERT AVGIMPVII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPIIICOSIIPP - Fortuna standing left holding a rudder on a globe and a cornucopia.

VM.102/2, SR.-, RSC.404/423, RIC.69/71a

196

 Obv: LSEPTSEVPE RTAVGIMPVIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: FORTVNAE R [EDVCI] - Fortuna seated left holding a rudder on a globe and a cornucopia, with a wheel beneath the throne.
Refers to the departure of Severus to wage war on Clodius Albinus.
VM.41, SR.1752, RSC.188, RIC.78a

Obv: LSEPTSEVPERT [AVGIMP]VIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRP IIII C OS[IIPP] - Victory advancing left, holding a wreath and a palm frond.

RIC.86d

197

 Obv: LSEPTSEVPERT AVGIMPVIIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: HERCVLI DEFENS - Hercules standing half-right leaning on a club and holding a bow, with a lion's skin draped over his arm.
Hercules was the patron god of Severus' home; here he is the defender of the Emperor.
VM.45v, SR.1754v, RSC.212, RIC.97

Obv: LSEPTSEVPERT AVGIMPVIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PM [T]RPV COSIIPP - Pax seated left holding a scepter and a branch.

VM.105, SR.-, RSC.444, RIC.88a

198
199

 Obv: LSEPTSEVAVGIMPXIPARTMAX - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPVII COSIIPP - Fortuna standing half left, head turned right and wearing a modius. She holds a cornucopia and a long rudder, with a prow at her feet..

VM.108/1, SR.-, RSC.452, RIC.136

200

 Obv: SEVERVSAVG PARTMAX - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPVIII COS I IPP - Victory flying left, holding an unwound wreath over a shield set on a base.
Refers to the victories over Parthia in 198.
VM.109, SR.-, RSC.454, RIC.150

Obv: SEVERVSAVG PARTMAX - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPVIII COSII PP - Victory flying left, holding an unwound wreath over a shield set on a base.
Refers to the victories over Parthia in 198 AD.
VM.109, SR.-, RSC.454, RIC.150

201

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PARTMAX PM TRPVIIII - Trophy of arms with two captives seated at it's base. Left captive has hands in front of him, right captive's hands are behind his back.

VM.28, SR.4074v, LRBC2.1908

202

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: VOTSVSCDNCPMTRPXCOSIIIPP - Severus veiled as a priest, standing facing with his head turned left, sacrificing from a patera over a lighted tripod altar.

SR.1797v

203

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXICOS IIIP P - Fortuna seated left, holding a baton and a cornucopia, a wheel beneath the throne.

VM.112, RIC.189b

204

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXIICOSIIIPP - Genius standing half left sacrificing from a patera over an altar, and holding grain ears.

VM.113/1

205

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXIII COSIIIPP - Roma standing half-left holding Victory and a reversed spear.

VM.114/2, SR.1775, RSC.470-1

206

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXIIIICOSIIIPP - Annona standing half-left, holding corn ears over a modius and holding a cornucopia.



207

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXVCOSIIIPP - Trophy of arms with a captive seated to it's left resting his chin on his hand, and a captive standing to the right with crossed legs..



208

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXVI COSIIIPP - Concordia seated left holding a patera and a scepter.



209

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXVII COSIIIPP - Jupiter standing facing with his head turned left, holding a thunderbolt and a scepter, between two children.
The two children probably refer to Caracalla and Geta, and Jupiter here is in his manifestation as the Conservator. Most likely refers to vows made for the protection of the two princes while engaged in the British wars.


210

 Obv: SEVERVS PIVSAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: PMTRPXVIII COSIIIPP - Jupiter standing facing with his head turned left, holding a thunderbolt and a scepter, between two children.
The two children probably refer to Caracalla and Geta, and Jupiter here is in his manifestation as the Conservator. Most likely refers to vows made for the protection of the two princes while engaged in the British wars.
VM.121

211

The following catalogue references are used for the coins throughout this site:
VM - "The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins" by David Van Meter (1991) - My favorite general reference.
SR - "Roman Coins and Their Values" - by David Sear (1988)
RSC - "Roman Silver Coins" Part III - by H.A. Seaby and David R. Sear (1982)
RIC - "Roman Imperial Coinage" Volume IV - by Mattingly and Sydenham (1936)

If you have an comments, questions, or corrections, please email me.
All coins from the author's collection. Not a commercial site, these coins are not for sale.

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Dated coins of Septimius Severus
last modified: 7 Mar 2006