Septimius Severus Silver Denarius 196AD Horseback Reverse

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

Obverse: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right

Reverse: ADVENTVI AVG FELICISSIMO, Septimius Severus, in military attire, on horse prancing right, raising right hand

Date: c. 196-197 A.D., RIC 74

Size: 17.5mm diameter, 3.38g weight

Composition: Silver

An excerpt from the Dictionary of Roman Coins regarding this design:

After having reestablished peace in the east by the destruction of Pescennius Niger, and with the design of marching against Albinus, Severus returned to Rome, where his entry was magnificent. That was the same Felicissimus Adventus - "the most auspicious return" - which is alluded to here. Capt. Smyth assigns the return to Rome which this device commemorates, to the year 196 of the Christian era; and adds - "The first public entry of Severus was under every possible demonstration of joy: yet he committed unheard-of cruelties. After commending the character of Commodus to the Senators, who had declared his memory infamous, he executed a number of their body, without trial; and Rome was filled with bloodshed. At the same time, however, he executed retributive justice on the insolent, venal, and treacherous Praetorians, whom he disarmed, degraded and ignominiously banished to the distance of a hundred miles from Rome."