Septimius Severus, 193-211. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.23 g, 6 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. Well struck and with an unusually sharp and attractive reverse. Extremely fine.


This reverse type depicts the personification of the Roman province of Africa, distinguished by an elephant-skin headdress and a lion at her feet, commemorating the imperial visit to the province in 205. Septimius Severus and his family toured the cities along the North African coast, with a special visit to his hometown of Leptis Magna, where he funded the construction of a magnificent new forum and the reconstruction of the docks. It was said that he lavished such wealth on the city that it began to rival both Carthage and Alexandria
- a claim that holds some merit, as the city's remains today are remarkably impressive.