(2) Can an 'authentic' limes denarius have a casting seam? Do the seams on ancient casts look different from the seams on modern cast fakes? I've seen a few auction listings that describe ancient counterfeits with seams, but I don't know if I've ever seen a confirmed case in hand (unless that's what's going on with one of mine, which certainly looks like a 'limes' not an AR Denarius, but about which I've always wondered if it were a modern fake JJ Nice limes denarii. These aren't great photos as they're actually frames captured from a video I made about my 'limes' subcollection, but these are some of my Severan era limes denarii - hopefully actual 'limes,' not modern fake, I'm more confident about some than others (I've got some Flavian & Adoptive too):Īnd then next to their 'official,' legitimate AR Denarii of similar types: (2) Can an 'authentic' limes denarius have a casting seam? Do the seams on ancient casts look different from the seams on modern cast fakes? I've seen a few auction listings that describe ancient counterfeits with seams, but I don't know if I've ever seen a confirmed case in hand (unless that's what's going on with one of mine, which certainly looks like a 'limes' not an AR Denarius, but about which I've always wondered if it were a modern fake instead). (1) Are 'limes' cast coins? Or struck from dies cast from official issues? Or just struck in base metal using official or imitative dies? Or some cast, some struck? Never found a proper answer (but haven't looked that hard either). I've bought group lots of them under $10 (USD) a piece.Ī pair of related questions I've always had: For another, they're generally very cheap. For one thing, I find the patinas really beautiful and fascinating when looking at them all together. Not quite sure how many 'limes' I have (maybe a dozen or so?), but I've always really liked them for a variety of reasons. I'm glad you brought that up Mike - I immediately wondered exactly that. Pieta: This Roman goddess is veiled and dropping incense onto an altar.In my inexpert opinion, your coins is a 'limes' issue - ancient, but not official.Hilaritas: Septimius Severus coins featuring Hilaritas show the god holding a palm leaf.Cybele: Coins with Cybele depict two lions and say 'Mater Deum.'.Juno: The text on this Roman currency reads 'Ivno' and its image includes a peacock.Fortuna: These say 'Fortvnae' and show a child next to the goddess.Ceres: Roman money with the goddess of grain shows her holding ears of corn ears and says 'Cereri.'.Venus: These coins say 'Vener' and show the goddess holding an apple.You can identify the god or goddess featured on the reverse side by looking closely at the image's details. How can you identify the god on a coin?Įven though most Septimius Severus coins have the same fronts, they frequently have different backs. The currency tended to be a mixture of gold, silver, copper, bronze, brass, tin, zinc and other metals. However, money during Septimius Severus' time was frequently made with mixed metals due to inflation. Officially, an aureus was made with gold, a denarius was made with silver, and a sestertius was made with brass or bronze. One aureus equaled 25 denarii, and one denarius equaled four sestertii. Septimius Severus produced several types of Roman money, including the aureus, the sestertius, and the denarius. The materials used for the currency varied depending on its denomination. What material are Septimius Severus coins made from? Septimius Severus' Sons: You can also find coins from the Severan dynasty that feature Caracalla and Getta, the emperor's sons.Religious Figures: Roman gods and goddesses are featured on the back of many coins from this era.Coins printed in her honor show a woman facing to the right with her hair in elaborate curls and twists. Julia Domna: Julia Domna was the second wife of the emperor.Eagles: On the reverse side of many coins, an imperial eagle is centered between two military standards.He has thick curly hair and a curly beard, and a wreath tied around his head. Septimius Severus: Portraits of the emperor show him in profile facing to the right.These Roman coins are available with the following images: Though they are called Septimius Severus coins, denarii printed during the emperor's reign actually contained more than just pictures of Septimius Severus. What images are featured on Septimius Severus coins? These were used to pay Roman troops everywhere in the empire, so they can be found throughout Europe and Africa. As emperor, Septimius Severus minted several bronze, silver and gold coins portraying himself and his family. Septimius Severus Roman Imperial Coins (27 BC-476 AD)īorn in Africa in 145 AD, Septimius Severus managed to seize power and become the ruler of the Roman Empire.

Septimius severus denarius