denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Coin Auctions

Lot 3183 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Septimius Severus. Silver Denarius (3.37 g), AD 193-211. Rome, AD 210/1. SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Reverse VICTORIAE B-RIT, Victory seated left on shield, balancing shield set on knee and holding palm. RIC 335; BMC 61-2; RSC 731. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine.

In AD 208 Septimius Severus led his legions into Britian with the intent to subdue Caledonia. According to Dio Cassius, "Severus invaded Caledonia. But as he advanced through the country he experienced countless hardships in cutting down the forests, leveling the heights, filling up the swamps, and bridging the rivers; but he fought no battle and beheld no enemy in battle array" (Romaika, lxxvii.13.1-2). Thus the Caledonians seemingly conducted a successful guerrilla defense, although this did not prevent them from eventually seeking terms in AD 210, which Severus granted on condition they relinquish control of the Central Lowlands. Later in the year the Caledonians joined with another tribe, the Maeatae, revolted and resumed the war with the Romans.

During the entirety of the British campaign, Severus suffered heavily from gout and had to be carried on a litter. He fell fatally ill early in AD 211 and was evacuated to Eboracum, modern York, where he died on 4 February. Although Caracalla continued to campaign in Caledonia into AD 212, his attentions were called for elsewhere and he soon made peace with the native Britons.
Estimated Value $250 - 300.
Ex A. Lynn Collection; Freeman & Sear 7 (22 February 2002), 505.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80