I'm stumped on the ID of this Roman

ajaan

Can it be Septimus Severus? Doesn't look like one to me. But I'm ignorant on these.

Aethelred

I am without the slightest hint of a clue. The bust looks like Clodius Albinus, but the inscription (what I can see of it) does not seem to match.

lordmarcovan

If the Dead King in the Sutton Hoo helmet is stumped, then I know I don't even wanna try to guess.

STLNATS

I think that its a provencial drachm of Caesarea in Cappodocia of Sept Severus. The last 3 letters on the left of the obverse are the greek for SEP. The right is SEOVEROS (I think).

Very nice condition. BTW, the reverse is Mt Argaeus.

ajaan

Thanks STLNATS

lordmarcovan

Aethelred

<< <i>I think that its a provencial drachm of Caesarea in Cappodocia of Sept Severus. The last 3 letters on the left of the obverse are the greek for SEP. The right is SEOVEROS (I think).

Very nice condition. BTW, the reverse is Mt Argaeus.

>>



If there was a "hats off" icon, I'd use it right now...well done STLNATS!

STLNATS

You're welcome.

BTW, these things are dated by regal year by the letters in the exergue of the reverse. If I understand correctly, the "ET" is the setup and what looks an R is the date, but R isn't a greek number but a specialized reference should tie it down.

This seems to be a very early portrait as well, before the mints got used to Severus. Really a great, project coin. I'm jealous! Congrats!

lordmarcovan

<< <i>If there was a "hats off" icon, I'd use it right now...well done STLNATS! >>



Here, you can borrow mine.

Sapyx

<< <i>BTW, these things are dated by regal year by the letters in the exergue of the reverse. If I understand correctly, the "ET" is the setup and what looks an R is the date, but R isn't a greek number but a specialized reference should tie it down. >>


Did a bit of checking the reference sites. Here's your coin, Sydenham 389, pictured on Wildwinds:


As for the "number R", Doug Smith's website has the answer - it's basically a common (at the time) typo for "B", which is Greek number "2". Year 2 of Septimus Severus was 194 AD.

STLNATS

Good followup info Sapyx! I'm always reluctant to assume a typo in an area that I'm not familiar with, so thank you!

Also, the date ties very nicely with the very early portrait style. Later issues seem to have a more conventional portrait.