THE LEGIONARY COINS OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
Abstract
As Severus faced his opponents in the Year of the Five Emperors, his mint produced a series of legionary coins that named each of the legions fighting for him. This article shows how those coins not only celebrated Severus’ soldiers but framed Severus in relation to previous leaders. Previous scholarship has focused on how the coins allude to the most famous series of legionary coins, that of Mark Antony before Actium, but that was not the only connection the coins made. Though not included in the Roman Imperial Coinage descriptions, coins for several of Severus’ legions also include Capricorns, which this article shows were the first of the many ways that Severus connected himself to Augustus. Similarly, Severus’ coins also linked him to Marcus Aurelius, the last emperor to use the iconography of a legionary eagle between standards before Severus himself.
Keywords
DOI: 10.14795/j.v11i3.1038
References
ABDY/MINNITT 2002
Abdy, R./Minnitt, S. ‘Shapwick Villa, Somerset.’ In Abdy, R./Leins, I. /Williams, J. (eds.), Coin Hoards from Roman Britain: Volume XI (London: Royal Numismatic Society), 169-233.
ANDO 2000
Ando, C. 2000. Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire (Berkeley: University of California Press).
ASKEW 1951
Askew, G. 1951. The Coinage of Roman Britain (London: Seaby).
BAER 2020
Baer, M. 2020. ‘Erneute Stempelstudie zur Restitutionsprägung der Kaiser Marcus Aurelius und Lucius Verus.’ In Fischer-Bossert, W./Schindel, N. (eds.), Cista Mystica. Festschrift für Wolfgang Szaivert (Vienna: Österreichische Forschungsgesellschaft für Numismatik), 9–39.
BAHARAL 1996
Baharal, D. 1996. The Victory of Propaganda: The Dynastic Aspects of the Severans’ Imperial Propaganda—The Literary and Archaeological Evidence (193-235 A.D.) (Oxford: British Archaeological Reports).
BARTON 1995
Barton, T. 1995. ‘Augustus and Capricorn: Astrological Polyvalency and Imperial Rhetoric.’ Journal of Roman Studies 85, 33–51.
BECKMANN 2017
Beckmann, M. 2017. ‘The Restoration of Mark Antony’s Legionary Denarii by Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.’ Numismatic Chronicle 177, 135–47.
BICKFORD-SMITH 1994
Bickford-Smith, R. A. ‘The Imperial Mints in the East for Septimius Severus: It Is Time to Begin A Thorough Reconsideration.’ Rivista Italiana di Numismatica e Scienze Affini 96: 53-71.
BIRLEY 1971
Birley, A. R. 1971. ‘Legio VI Victrix in Britain.’ In Butler, R. M. (ed.), Soldier and Civilian in Roman Yorkshire. Essays to Commemorate the Nineteenth Centenary of the Foundation of York (Leicester: Leicester University Press), 97–106.
BIRLEY 1988
Birley, A. R. 1988. The African Emperor: Septimius Severus, 2nd ed. (London: Batsford).
BIRLEY 1928
Birley, E. B. 1928. ‘A Note on the Title “Gemina.”’ Journal of Roman Studies 18, 56–60.
BMCRE V
Mattingly, H. Coins of the roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. 5: Pertinax to Elagabalus (London: British Museum Publications, 1975).
BÖRNER 2012
Börner, S. 2012. Marc Aurel im Spiegel seiner Münzen und Medaillons: eine vergleichende Analyse der stadtrömischen Prägungen zwischen 138 und 180 n. Chr. (Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt).
BRACE 2003
Brace, B. R. 2003. ‘The Legionary Coins of Septimius Severus.’ Journal of the Classical & Medieval Numismatic Society, Series 2 4, 119–26.
CAES BG
C. Iulius Caesar. Commentarii rereum gestarum I: Bellum Gallicum, Seel, O. (ed.) (Leipzig: Teubner, 1961).
CAMPBELL 1984
Campbell, J. B. The Emperor and the Roman Army, 31 BC-AD 235 (Oxford: Clarendon Press).
CARLSON 1971
Carlson, C. W. A. 1971. ‘Some Notes on Coin Issues Commemorating Roman Legions.’ Journal of the Society of Ancient Numismatics 3, 51–2.
CÀSSOLA 1965
Càssola, F. 1965. ‘Pertinace durante il principato di Commodo.’ La Parola del Passato 20, 451–77.
CHRE
Coin Hoards of the Roman Empire, https://chre.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/. Accessed 6 August 2024.
CNG
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, https://www.cngcoins.com/. Accessed 10 July 2024.
COOLEY 2007
Cooley, A. 2007. ‘Septimius Severus: The Augustan Emperor.’ In Swain, S./Harrison, S.J./Elsner, J. (eds.), Severan Culture (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 385–97.
CRAMER 1954
Cramer, F. H. Astrology in Roman Law and Politics (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society).
D’AMATO 2018
D’Amato, R. 2018. Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1) (Oxford: Osprey Publishing).
D’AMATO 2020
D’Amato, R. 2020. Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (2) (Oxford: Osprey Publishing).
DILLON 2007
Dillon, J. N. 2007. ‘Octavian’s Finances after Actium, before Egypt: The CAESAR DIVI F / IMP CAESAR Coinage and Antony’s Legionary Issue.’ Chiron 37, 35–48.
DIO
Dio Cassius, Roman History, Cary, E. (ed.), 9 vols. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1914-1927).
DOMASZEWSKI 1885
Domaszewski, A. von. 1885. Die Fahnen im römischen Heer (Vienna: C. Gerold's Sohn).
DOMASZEWSKI 1900
Domaszewski, A. von. 1900. Der Truppensold der Kaiserzeit (Heidelberg: Koester).
EATON 2020
Eaton, J. 2020. Leading the Roman Army: Soldiers and Emperors, 31 BC – 235 AD (Philadelphia: Pen and Sword).
ELKINS 2018-2019
Elkins, N. T. ‘Coinage Programs and Panegyric in the Reign of Trajan: Imagery, Audience, and Agency.’ Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome 63/64, 269-201.
EPIT. DE CAES.
Abrégé des Césars, Festy, M. (ed). (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1999).
FRANKE 2000
Franke, T. 2000. ‘Legio XIV Gemina,’ in Le Bohec, Y./Wolff, C. (eds.), Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire: actes du congrès de Lyon, 17-19 septembre 1998 (Paris: De Boccard), 191–202.
GOLDSWORTHY 1996
Goldsworthy, A. K. The Roman Army at War: 100 BCE—AD 200 (Oxford: Clarendon Press).
HA
Historia Augusta, Rohrbacher, D./Magie, D. (eds.), 3 vols. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2022).
HASEBROEK 1921
Hasebroek, J. 1921. Untersuchungen zur Geschichte des Kaisers Septimius Severus (Heidelberg: C. Winter).
HDN.
Herodian, History of the Empire, Whittaker, C. R. (ed), 2 vols. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1969-1970).
KATZ 2023
Katz, N. S. ‘Legionary Coins in the Year of the Four Emperors.’ Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology 10, 174-86.
KEPPIE 1994
Keppie, L. 1994. The Making of the Roman Army from Republic to Empire (London: Routledge).
KRAAY 1949
Kraay, C. M. 1949. ‘The Coinage of Vindex and Galba, A.D. 68, and the Continuity of the Augustan Principate.’ Numismatic Chronicle 9, 129–49.
KOMNICK 2001
Komnick, H. 2001. Die Restitutionsmünzen der frühen Kaiserzeit: Aspekte der Kaiserlegitimation (Berlin: De Gruyter).
KUBITSCHEK 1914
Kubitschek, M. W. 1914. ‘Ein Kriegszahlmeister des Septimus Severus.’ Numismatische Zeitschrift 47, 191–4.
LANGFORD 2013
Langford, J. 2013. Maternal Megalomania (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press).
LEVITHAN 2013
Levithan, J. Roman Siege Warfare (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press).
MACMULLEN 1984
MacMullen, R. ‘The Legion as a Society.’ Historia 33, 440-56.
MAXFIELD 1981
Maxfield, V. A. 1981. The Military Decorations of the Roman Army (Berkeley: University of California Press).
MOUCHMOV 1934
Mouchmov, N. A. Le trésor numismatique de Réka-Devnia (Marcianopolis) (Sofia: Musée national bulgare).
OCRE
Online Coins of the Roman Empire, https://numismatics.org/ocre/. Accessed 10 July 2024.
OKAMURA 1991
Okamura, L. 1991. ‘The Flying Columns of Emperor Gallienus: “Legionary” Coins and Their Hoards,’ in V. A. Maxfield and M. J. Dobson (eds.), Roman Frontier Studies 1989 : Proceedings of the XVth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies (Exeter: University of Exeter Press), 387–91.
OMAN 1918
Oman, C.. 1918. ‘On the Coins of Severus and Gallienus Commemorating the Roman Legions.’ Numismatic Chronicle 18, 80–96.
PARKER 1971
Parker, H. M. D. 1971. The Roman Legions (New York: Barnes & Noble).
PASEK 2013
Pasek, S. 2013. Imperator Caesar Didius Iulianus Augustus: seine Regentschaft und die Usurpationen der Provinzstatthalter (193 n. Chr.) (Munich: AVM).
PASEK 2014
Pasek, S. 2014. Bellum civile inter Principes: Der Bürgerkrieg zwischen Septimius Severus und Pescennius Niger (193/194 n. Chr.) (Munich: AVM).
PINK 1933
Pink, K. ‘Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit.’ Numismatische Zeitschrift 66, 17-54.
PLATNAUER 1918
Platnauer, M. 1918. The Life and Reign of the Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
POTTER 1994
Potter, D. S. Prophets and Emperors: Human and Divine Authority from Augustus to Theodosius (Cambridge: Harvard University Press).
RANTALA 2017
Rantala, J. The Ludi Saeculares of Septimius Severus: The Ideologies of a New Roman Empire (London: Routledge).
RIC I2
Sutherland, C. H. V./Carson, R. A. G., The Roman Imperial Coinage I: From 31 BC to AD 69, 2nd ed. (London: Spink, 1984).
RIC II
Mattingly, H./Sydenham, E. A., Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. 2: Vespasian to Hadrian (London: Spink, 1926).
RIC II, 12
Carradice, I./Buttrey, T. V., Roman Imperial Coinage II, 1: From AD 69 to AD 96, Vespasian to Domitian, 2nd ed. (London: Spink, 2007).
RIC II, 32
Abdy, R./Mittag, P, Roman Imperial Coinage II, 3: From AD 117 to AD 138—Hadrian, 2nd ed. (London: Spink, 2020).
RIC III
Mattingly, H./Sydenham, E. A. Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. 3: Antoninus Pius to Commodus (London: Spink, 1930).
RIC IV, 1
Mattingly, H./Sydenham, E. A. Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. 4 Part 1: Pertinax to Geta (London: Spink, 1936).
RIC V, 1
Webb, P. H. Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. 5 Part 1: Valerian to Florian (London: Spink, 1927).
RITTERLING 1924-1925
Ritterling, E. ‘Legio.’ In: Kroll, W. (ed.), Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft 12 (Stuttgart), 1211-1829.
ROSSI 1965
Rossi, L. 1965. ‘Le insegne militari nella monetazione imperiale romana da Augusto a Commodo.’ Rivista Italiana di Numismatica e Scienze Affini 67, 41–81.
ROWAN 2018
Rowan, C. 2018. From Caesar to Augustus (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
RRC
Crawford, M. H., Roman Republican Coinage, 2 vols. (London: Cambridge University Press, 1974).
SÁNCHEZ 2010
Sánchez, F. L. 2010. ‘Military Units of Mark Antony and Lucius Verus: Numismatic Recognition of Distinction.’ Israel Numismatic Research 5, 123–38.
SCHUMACHER 2003
Schumacher, L. ‘Die politische Stellung des D. Clodius Albinus (193-197 n. Chr.).’ Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz 50, 355-69.
SHELAIH 2022
Shelaih, R. M. 2022. ‘Capricorn Image on Ancient Roman Coins.’ Journal of Association of Arab Universities for Tourism and Hospitality 22, 1-28.
SUET.
Suetonius, De vita Caesarum, Ihm, M. (ed.) (Leipzig: Teubner, 1907).
TÖPFER 2011
Töpfer, K. M. 2011. Signa Militaria: Die römischen Feldzeichen in der Republik und im Prinzipat (Mainz: RGZM).
VERMEEREN 1991
Vermeeren, T. 1991. ‘Le type « legio » dans le monnayage de Septime Sévère.’ Revue belge de numismatique et de sigillographie 137, 65–94.
WARDLE 2014
Wardle, D. Suetonius: Life of Augustus (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
WATSON 1969
Watson, G. R. 1969. The Roman Soldier (Ithaca: Cornell University Press).
WITTWER 1986
Wittwer, K. 1986. Kaiser und Heer im Spiegel der Reichsmünzen: Untersuchungen zu den militärpolitischen Prägungen in der zeit von Nerva bis Caracalla (Tübingen: Eberhard-Karls-Universität).
WOYTEK 2007
Woytek, B. 2007. ‚Die Münzen der römischen Republick und der Übergangszeit zum Prinzipat im Museum Carnuntum (mit einem Exkurs zu den Legionsprägung des Marcus Antonius).’ In Alram, M./Schmidt-Dick (eds.), Numismata Carnuntina. Forschungen und Materials (Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften), 489–522.
ZIEGLER 1971
Ziegler, R. 1971. ‘Die Legionsmünzen des Kaisers Septimius Severus.’ Münstersche numismatische Zeitung im Lagerkatalog 41, April, 1–4.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN: 2360-266X