The Arch of Septimius Severus

Triton XIV, Lot: 750. Estimate $3000. Sold for $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.00 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 203. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / COS III P P, Arch of Septimius Severus: arch consisting of large central bay and two smaller flanking bays divided by composite columns supporting a large attic, consisting of central inscription tablet flanked by panels each containing two signa; above, facing triumphal quadriga flanked by human figures standing facing, addition figure on horseback on either side. RIC IV 259; RSC 104; BMCRE 320. Superb EF, lightly toned with traces of underlying luster, small hairline flan crack. Well centered and struck. Of historical importance and one of the great architectural types in the Roman imperial series.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 40 (16 May 2007), lot 755.

On the original arch, located in the Forum Romanum, the attic inscription reads: IMP • CAES • LVCIO • SEPTIMIO • M • FIL • SEVERO • PIO • PERTINACI • AVG • PATRI • PATRIAE • PARTHICO • ARABICO • ET/PARTHICO • ADIABENICO • PONTIFIC • MAXIMO • TRIBVNIC • POTEST • XI • IMP • XI • COS • III • PROCOS • ET/IMP • CAES • M • AVRELIO • L • FIL • ANTONINO • AVG • PIO • FELICI • TRIBVNIC • POTEST • VI • COS • PROCOS • P • P/[[ET P SEPTIMIO L FIL GETAE NOBILLISI]] OPTIMIS • FORTISSIMISQVE • PRINCIBVS •/OB • REM • PVBLICAM • RESTITVTAM • IMPERIVMQVE • POPVLI • ROMANI • PROPOGATVM/INSIGNIBVS • VIRTVTIBVS • EORVM • DOMI • FORISQVE • S • P • Q • R. The line ET P SEPTIMIO L FIL GETAE NOBILLISI was removed from the inscription following Geta’s assasination in AD 212, although it is still possible to make it out, since the original inscription was composed of gilded bronze letters which were inserted into the stone with pins.