Lot 2649. VF and Rare. Est $275.

Septimius Severus AE27 of Nikopolis ad Istrum.

obv: AV KAI CEP CEVEHROC. laureate head right 
rev: VPA POL AVCPIKOC NIKOPOLI PROC, Hercules standing right with club, 
     lion skin & bow, hunting (the Stymphalian birds).  

Issued by magistrate Pollenius Auspex who evidently held office for only
a short time at the beginning of Septimius' reign, before being transferred 
to Britain, where he was Governor from c200 to 205 AD after the defeat of 
Clodius Albinus.

Auspex rates a mention by Cassius Dio:
     "This Auspex was the cleverest man imaginable for jokes and chit-chat, for
     despising all mankind, gratifying his friends, and taking vengeance on an
     enemy. Many bitter and witty sayings of his are reported, addressed to
     various persons, many even to Severus himself. Here is one of the latter
     kind. When the emperor was enrolled in the family of Marcus, Auspex
     said: "I congratulate you, Caesar, upon finding a father," implying that up
     to that time he had been fatherless by reason of his obscure birth."

As Moushmov 1013 but Hercules holding bow.  Unlisted in Verbanov.


By permission of ancientcoinart.com, November, 2002.