Septimius Severus, 193-211. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.13 g, 6 h), Rome, 206. SEVERVS PIVS AVG Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. LAETITIA / TEMPORVM Galley under sail to left in center of Circus Maximus; above and to right, four quadrigae galloping to left; below, wild animals, among them ostrich, two lions chasing wild donkey, bull and bear. BMC 343. Cohen 253. RIC 274. Nicely toned and very well struck, a beautifully preserved example of this popular issue with an exceptionally sharp and complete reverse. Thin flan crack and with a few very light deposits, otherwise, extremely fine.



The reverse of this issue celebrates festivities held in the Circus Maximus, which Cassius Dio, though referring to an earlier event, describes in detail: 'The entire receptacle in the amphitheatre had been constructed so as to resemble a boat in shape, and was capable of receiving or discharging four hundred beasts at once; and then, as it suddenly fell apart, there came rushing forth bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses, bisons [...] so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.' (Cass. Dio 77.1.4-5).