Need ID Help (Ancient Roman)

DesertRat

I believe this may be a Severus II or Severus Alexander but cannot find a pic that shows the reverse with upraised right arm.

Any help is apppreciated

(sorry for the poor scans)

CIVITAS

Denarius of Severus Alexander 222-235 A.D.

Reverse is Sol standing facing, head l., holding globe in l. hand and raising r. hand. P M TR P VIIII COS III P [P]

RIC 102, RSC 391

WillieBoyd2

Definitely Severus Alexander. Severus II is a much older looking guy.

From a short lookup in the online Wildwinds data base it looks to me like:

Number RIC 101
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/t.html

The reverse looks like "TRP VIIII COS III".

CIVITAS

Willie,

101 is Sol holding whip.

DesertRat

For my 18,000th post on these forums i will say.


Thanks Josh and Willie for the ID.

2 questions now.

1. Any idea of value? The scans don't do justice but this is a very well struck coin with good details.

2. What do the different reference numbers stand for. Ie; RIC, RSC?

I know there are Sear numbers, Hendin numbers and now I see the RIC and RSC. Can someone give me a rundown on the various identifiers?

thanks again

Danny

CIVITAS

Looks like a nice portrait. I'd probably be asking somewhere between $50.00 and $75.00 for that coin nowadays, assuming it has any "life" to it in hand.

RIC = Roman Imperial Coinage. THE standard refernce for Roman Imperial Coinage (hmm....). It's a 10 volume set that was written over the course of many years by many people. A new set will probably run you about $1000.00.

RSC = Roman Silver Coins. A condensed and pretty easy to use set of 5 books based on Cohen's 1800's work, "Monnaie sous l'Empire Romaine" It only lists silver coin types from Republic through the fall. Published by Seaby. I think some volumes are out of print, or being reprinted. I think a full set costs about $300.00 brand new.

DesertRat

Thanks again Josh.

The coin does have some "life" to it being lightly toned and has some luster. As I said before the strike is very nice with some wear on the reverse and little wear on the portrait (details still visible on the ear and beard).

It was a wild card buy along with some other ancient coins from a lightside forum member.

Danny

Aethelred

If I may offer a little advice here Desertrat, buy a set of Sear catalogs if you want a reference on Romans. They (will) list all roman coins from the early Republic to the end of the Empire. Right now only the first three of what is planned to be five books are out, but #4 should be out this year followed by #5 in about 2009 or 2010. They are about $100 per book, so they are not cheap, but are well worth the cost!