116: Rome. Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. Gold Aureus - eBay (item 320247625213 end time May-26-08 12:16:16 PDT) Back to My eBayCatalog:The Pre Long Beach Sale - World Sale eBay Live Auctions:Coins > World Coins > Live Auction Seller eBay:Coins & Paper Money > Coins: Ancient > Roman: Imperial 116: Rome. Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. Gold AureusItem number: 320247625213 Bidder or seller of this item? Sign in for your status Bidding has ended for this item This item has been added to My eBay for Guests. As a guest, you can: Track up to 10 items on this computer in My eBay Receive an email reminder for this item a few hours before it ends View larger picture Closed at:US $38,000.00 Estimate:US $10,000.00 - US $12,500.00 History:22 bids Lot number:116 (View all lots) Auction Date:May-26-08 10:00:00 PDT Auction Currency:US $ (U.S. dollar) Currency Calculator High Bid:Live Auction Floor Bidder Item location:Beverly Hills, CA 0% APR until 2009 with new eBay MasterCard You can also: Email to a friend Meet the seller Seller:i-lgoldbergcoinsandcollectibles( 2235) Feedback:99.4 % Positive Member:since May-09-01 in United States See detailed feedback Ask seller a question Add to Favorite Sellers View seller's other items Buy safely 1. Check the seller's reputation Score: 2235 | 99.4% Positive See detailed feedback 2. Check how you're protected If paying with a credit card, see your card issuer's terms Description (revised) Prev LotNext Lot Hover thumbnail to view large image below. Click thumbnail to view full image in new window. Rome. Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. Gold Aureus (7.13 g), Rome mint, struck 193 AD. Laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Reverse: Legionary eagle between two standards, the standards each with wreath and two insignias, plus forepart of Capricorn at side: LEG X IIII GEM M V; TR P COS in exergue. RIC 14; C. 271; BMCRE 18, and pl. 5, 12 (same dies); cf. Fr-381. Finely styled portrait, well centered on broad flan. Very rare. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. The image here of Severus is among the earliest of his imperial coin portraits. In it we see an idealized likeness, conflated somewhat with the features of his assassinated predecessor, Pertinax (or perhaps even one of the earlier Antonines). This may be due, in part, to there not being ready at the time an official likeness of the newly installed emperor -- a sanctioned model that the die engravers at the mint would work from. But considering the traits and various agendas that attached themselves to Roman Imperial coinage in general, this kind of Pertinax-look-alike rendering may be a deliberate device on Severus' part to portray himself as a relation and heir, and thus the legitimate successor to the unfortunate Pertinax (If nothing else, Pertinax and Severus were at least comrades-in-arms.) Rome, in a year's time since Pertinax's death in March 28, of 193 A.D. would see the ascension and elimination of two claimants to the imperial throne, with Severus ridding himself of a third in 197 A.D. Attendant with this process was civil war, because of the factions and their partisans. Born in Leptis Magna in Africa, Severus was a soldier of outstanding ability, rising in command until, at the death of Commodus, he was governor of Upper Pannonia. Severus declared allegiance to Pertinax, but with the latter's murder and the curious case of Didius Julianius literally assuming the throne by outright purchase, the indignation these events aroused in the provinces caused Severus' troops to acclaim him as emperor. The military nature of Rome was the underlying basis of its empire, but at least the Imperial government maintained the fiction of some of its earlier republican trappings and forms. Severus went beyond this, converting the government into what was basically a military monarchy. The costs of this policy saw the continued debasement of the silver denarius, Rome's most venerable unit of currency. Accompanying this was economic decline and soaring inflation. On his deathbed, Severus, the craftiest of Rome's rulers, advised his two contentious and competitive sons: "Be united, enrich the soldiers, and scorn the rest." Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. From the Karnak Hoard; ex Commissioner H.G. Gutekunst, J. Hirsch Auc. XXXIV, May 5, 1914, lot no. 1250; ex C.S. Bement Collection, Naville & Cie, Auc. VIII, June 25-28, 1924, lot no. 1159. Our item number 1 15770 Notices This item is an "eBay Live Auction". This means that each item will not close at a specific time like a regular ebay auction. Because this is a live auction the lot will be opened in a format like a real auction house floor. Bids can be placed real-time during the auction via ebayliveauctions.com and icollector.com. Please note, bidders may place bids before the auction up to 1 hour prior to the start of the auction. This is the recommended method of bidding if you have a slow internet connection or do not have the experience bidding in a "live" sale. Due to the speed of the auction, we highy recommend a DSL or cable connection . Once the auction has started, only live bids are accepted. Please do not call to place bids during the auction as they will not be accepted. 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