Septimius Severus, 193-211. Denarius (Silver, 21 mm, 3.40 g, 12 h), Rome, 207. SEVERVS PIVS AVG Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. P M TR P XV COS III P P Africa, wearing elephant-skin headdress, standing front, head to right, her right hand at her side and holding a short baton in her left; at her feet, lion to right. BMC 531. Cohen 493. RIC 207. Nearly extremely fine.

This reverse type shows the personification of the Roman province of Africa, replete with an elephant skin headdress and a lion at her feet, and commemorates the imperial visit to the province in 205. Septimius and his family toured the cities along the north African coast, paying a special visit to his hometown of Leptis Magna, where he paid for a magnificent new forum to be built as well as rebuilding the docks. It was said that he lavished such expense on the city that it began to rival both Carthage and Alexandria, and this seems to have some merit as the remains of the city today are quite impressive.