Roman Empire, Seleucis and Pieria. Septimius Severus, c. 193-211 AD Laodicea ad Mare, c. AD 207-209 AD
Roman Empire, Seleucis and Pieria. Septimius Severus, c. 193-211 AD Laodicea ad Mare, c. AD 207-209 AD
AR Tetradrachm, 13.55g (28mm, 12h).
Laureate and cuirassed bust right, with gorgoneion on breastplate / Eagle standing facing, head l., with wings spread, wreath in beak, adn star between legs
Pedigree: Ex. Wild Rose Collection, purchased from Shanna Schmidt Numismatics; Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 Jan 2019), lot 662; Ex. Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 4 (3 Dec 1985), lot 560; Ex. Hess-Leu 41 (24 April 1969), lot 280.
References: Prieur & Amandry Group II, 21 (this coin, pl. XVI); McAlee, Severan, Group I, 15; Prieur 1141 (this coin illustrated)
Grade: EF, toned Ex. Hess-Leu 41 (24 April 1969), lot 280.
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Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, later as the capital of Roman Syria under Septimius Severus, Laodicea ad Mare reached new heights of success. In fact, the emperor granted it the title "Metropolis" as well as the status of Ius Italicum or a special tax exemption. A major center for coin production, Laodicea ad Mare led the way in the production of large format silver coins, i.e. tetradrachmai. This was in part due to the fact that, as Dr. Duncan-Jones theorized in his 2001 article The Denarii of Septimius Severus and the Mobility of Roman Coin in Numismatic Chronicle, there was a general lack of silver coinage in the east. As such, this facility granted Septimius the ability to continue paying his eastern legions.
