Lot 225
Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) AR Denarius, mint of Rome, AD 204-206, 1.83g.

Ancient, Medieval & Milled British, World & Islamic Coins | 113
Auction: 18 October 2023 at 10:00 BST
£114
Description
Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) AR Denarius, mint of Rome, AD 204-206, 1.83g. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right. Rev. LAETITIA / TEMPORVM, the centre of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship; the spina rigged with a sale, and the ship with turning markers fore and aft; four quadriga galloping above; animals running below; ostrich, panther, bear, bison and two lions. (RIC 113; BMC 167). About Fine. Underweight due to state of preservation. Nonetheless a very affordable example of this rare and important historical type.
Footnote
“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 (this is a kind of catt le foreign in species and appearance), so that seven hundred beasts in all, both wild and domesticated, at one and
the same time were seen running about and were slaughtered.” Dio, Roman History (LXXVII, 4-5).

