Septimius Severus, denarius, silver, reign 193–211, minted 201

Septimius Severus, denarius, silver, reign 193–211, minted 201, weight 3.25 g, diameter 19 mm. Obverse: Laureate bust of Septimius Severus facing right, legend SEVERVS AVG PART MAX. Reverse: Virtus standing left, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left, left hand resting on shield; legend VIRT AVGG. Strike: Well-centered with full legends visible. Toning: Light even toning with some darker peripheral areas. References: RIC IV Septimius Severus 171A (denarius). This coin was issued during the reign of Septimius Severus in 201 at the Rome mint. It reflects the emperor’s military campaigns and victories, particularly in the East, emphasized by the title PART MAX, denoting Parthicus Maximus after his campaigns against the Parthian Empire. The reverse type of Virtus symbolizes military courage and strength, which was a common propagandistic theme in Severus’s coinage, used to reinforce his legitimacy and authority following the civil wars of 193. This denarius forms part of the broader Severan silver coinage that circulated widely in the Roman Empire, serving both as currency and as a medium of imperial messaging.