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Septimius Severus

L. Septimius Severus

Dynasty: Severans

Augustus (AD 193-211)

Septimius Severus, as Governor of Pannonia, was the eventual victor in the civil war that followed the end of the Antonine Dynasty in AD 192. He hailed from Africa and his wife, Julia Domna, came from a local noble family of Syria. Septimius Severus successfully recovered the province of Mesopotamia for the Empire, and was on campaign when in Britain when he died, in AD 211, leaving the empire to his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Severus' major policy as emperor was the appeasement of the armies by granting them huge bonuses throughout his reign. He removed the threat of the Praetorian Guard by posting a Legion in Italy itself


Obverse Legends on coins depicting Septimius Severus

For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.


Coins of Septimius Severus currently available

Coin image Septimius Severus
Silver denarius issued AD 198
Obv: L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG PM IMP XI, Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right
Rev: SALVTI AVGG, Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in extended right hand snake coiled round altar
About Very Fine   |   AUD $125.00
Coin image Septimius Severus and Caesarea, Cappadocia, Caesarea
Bronze AE23 issued c. AD 195-210
Obv: ...Π CEOVHPOC ..., Laureate head facing right
Rev: ... O KAICAPIA ..., (ET? in ex.), Emperor on horseback galloping right
Good Fine   |   AUD $140.00