The George W. La Borde Collection of Roman Aurei Part I
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Septimius Severus, 193 – 211
Aureus 201, AV 7.25 g. SEVERVS AVG – PART MAX Laureate bust r., lion’s skin over shoulders. Rev. IVLIA – AVGVSTA Draped bust of Julia Domna r. C 1. BMC 192 and pl. 31, 16 (this obverse die). RIC 161b. Biaggi 1123 (this coin). Calicó 2587a (these dies).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Two spectacular portraits of fine
style perfectly struck and centred on a full flan. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Provenance
Valentine John Eustace Ryan (1882-1947) Collection sold by Glendining’s, auction, London, 20 February 1951, lot 1819 for £ 105/0/0, to Leonard Forrer.
Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) Collection, bought for £115 from Mario Ratto, sold privately in 1978 to Bank Leu and a partner.
Sold by Bank Leu, auction 22, Zurich, 8-9 May 1979, lot 296, estimated CHF 40’000, for CHF 38’000.
Sold by Numismatik Lanz, auction 70, Munich, 21 November 1994, lot 180.
Inventory of Freeman & Sear (Los Angeles), sold in May 2005.

Beginning in 201 and extending through the following year there was a tremendous emission of coinage bearing dynastic types. After so many years of civil war and social turmoil, Septimius Severus thought it prudent to publicise the dynasty he had founded, and the stability that it represented to the Roman people. The portrait of Septimius Severus on this coin is particularly interesting as the style of the hair and beard derives from the iconography of the Alexandrian god Serapis. This is meant to illustrate Severus’ identification with this African god, as he himself was a Roman of African extraction. The reverse bears a portrait of his wife, Julia Domna, who was of Syrian origin.