Septimius Severus, denarius, silver, reign 193-211, minted 193-211 at

Septimius Severus, denarius, silver, reign 193-211, minted 193-211 at Rome, weight 3.25 g, diameter 18 mm. Obverse: legend SEVERVS PIVS AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: legend FVNDATOR PACIS; Septimius Severus, togate and veiled, standing left, holding olive branch. Strike: centered strike with full legends and minor die wear on high points. Toning: light, even gray with slightly darker edges. References: RIC IV 265; BMCRE 334; Cohen 181; RSC 181. The type was issued during Septimius Severus’s efforts to legitimize his rule after the civil wars of 193. The obverse proclaims his piety and imperial authority, while the reverse inscription “Founder of Peace” and the image of the veiled emperor with an olive branch advertise his role in restoring stability to the empire. The coin circulated widely in Rome and the western provinces, serving as both currency and propaganda that emphasized the end of internal conflict and the beginning of a renewed pax under Severus’s administration.