Dynastic Tetradrachm for Septimius Severus

Triton XXI, Lot: 194. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 12.80 g, 12h). Dated RY 9 (AD 200/201). AYT K Λ CЄΠ CЄYH [ЄYC]Є ΠЄPT CЄB APA A∆I, laureate head right / Julia Domna standing facing, head left, holding wreath with her right hand and scepter with her left; to left, Geta standing facing, head right, holding globe in his extended right hand and scepter with his left; to right, Caracalla standing facing, head left, holding his mother’s scepter with his right hand and crowning Nike (mostly off the flan) in his left; Θ (date) above, [L] in exergue. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3985 bis (this coin – not numbered on pl. 215); K&G 49.32; Emmett 2665.9 (R5 – this coin cited); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 194 (this coin). Good VF, attractive find patina with traces of green. Extremely rare, with only two known specimens, this coin, and one that appeared in Sternberg XII (1982), lot 659.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Renzo Canavesi, Sagno, 1996. Ex Renzo Canavesi Collection (Sagno); Dr. Piero Beretta Collection (Milan); Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 3985 bis.

This coin was probably issued in connection with Septimius’ visit to Egypt, along with his family, in AD 199/200. A great rarity, it was not numbered in the Dattari-Savio plates, hence we have assigned it the number of 3985 bis.