Septimius Severus Sestertius, Bacchus (RIC IV 762)

Reverse

CNG, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Catalog Reference

RIC IV Septimius Severus 762

Ruler

Septimius Severus

Denomination

Sestertius

Date

204 AD

Mint

Rome

Metal

Bronze

Portrait Type

laureate

Obverse

SEVERVS PIVS AVG P M TR P XII

Bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right

Reverse

DI PATRII S C

Bacchus, naked, standing right, holding cup downwards in right hand and thyrsus in left hand, facing Hercules, naked, standing left, resting right hand on club set on ground and holding lion-skin over left arm; left of Bacchus, leopard

About This Type

This RIC IV Septimius Severus 762 is a sestertius of Septimius Severus (204 AD), struck at the Rome mint. The reverse depicts Bacchus, naked, standing right, holding cup downwards in right hand and thyrsus in left hand, facing Hercules, naked, standing left, resting right hand on club set on ground and holding lion-skin over left arm; left of Bacchus, leopard.

About the Sestertius

The sestertius was the large brass prestige coin of the Roman imperial series, typically 25–28 grams and 30–35mm in diameter. Its size gave engravers room for the finest portrait art and most detailed reverse compositions in Roman coinage. Sestertii bear the SC mark indicating senatorial authority over base metal coinage.

About the Rome Mint

The Rome mint was the principal mint of the Roman state from the Republic through the fall of the Western Empire. It produced the vast majority of gold and silver coinage and was the only mint for much of the first and second centuries AD.

All Septimius Severus coins Rome mint All Sestertius coins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RIC IV Septimius Severus 762?: RIC IV Septimius Severus 762 is a Bronze Sestertius of Septimius Severus (204 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. IV no. IV Septimius Severus 762.
How do you identify RIC IV Septimius Severus 762?: The obverse depicts Bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right with the inscription SEVERVS PIVS AVG P M TR P XII. The reverse depicts Bacchus, naked, standing right, holding cup downwards in right hand and thyrsus in left hand, facing Hercules, naked, standing left, resting right hand on club set on ground and holding lion-skin over left arm; left of Bacchus, leopard with the inscription DI PATRII S C. Portrait type: laureate.