Septimius Severus Silver Denarius 200AD RESTITVTOR VRBIS Reverse

Emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193-211 A.D.) Silver AR Denarius

Obverse: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right

Reverse: RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Septimius Severus, in military attire, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod and holding spear in left hand

Date: c. 200-201 A.D., RIC 167A

Size: 19mm diameter, 3.06g weight

Composition: Silver

The reverse of this coin celebrates Septimius Severus as "restitvtor vrbis," or "restorer of the city" (referring to Rome). Septimius likely claimed this title due to his work in ending the Roman civil war started during the Year of the Five Emperors, following the assassination of Emperor Commodus. Some might argue that Septimius unnecessarily prolonged that civil war, by first appointing his rival Clodius Albinus as Caesar (imperial heir) before then yoinking that title away two years later and giving it to his own son Caracalla. But likely the two would have inevitably come into conflict anyway. In any case, Septimius defeated Clodius in the resulting battle, executed him, then rode his horse over Clodius' naked corpse. Ever magnanimous in victory, he graciously pardoned Clodius' wife and two sons. Shortly thereafter he beheaded them and threw their corpses into the Rhone.