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Ruler: Otacilia Severa
Denomination: Sestertius
Obverse: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane.
Reverse: SAECVLARES AVGG S C, Hippopotamus advancing right.
Mint: Rome, 248 AD
Weight: 19,90 g
Diameter: 30 mm
Reference: RIC 200a; Banti 13; Cohen 65.
Provenance: Lipsia Numismatics auction 1 lot 373 = ex CNG e-auction 558 lot 652 = ex Naville numismatics auction 69 (November 2021), lot 515
Note: Marcia Otacilia Severa was the Roman empress and wife of Emperor Philip the Arab, who reigned over the Roman Empire from 244 to 249 AS. She was the mother of Emperor Philip II.
SAECVLARES AVGG series is one of the most avidly collected series of coins of the 3rd Century which was issued by Philip I, his wife Otacilia Severa, and their son Philip II, for the thousandth anniversary of Rome’s foundation.
Though archaeological evidence shows the hills of Rome were settled at least two centuries before the foundation date of 753 B.C. set by the sage Varro, the Romans considered that date gospel. The close of the millennium occurred in the unsettling year 248, when four separate rebellions broke within the ranks of the army. However, none of them could lure Philip from the capital, where he initiated celebrations (ludi saeculares; "igrzyska stulecia") on April 21, and where he remained to witness the millenary games later in the year.
Public games and celebrations (ludi saeculares; "igrzyska stulecia") were accompanied by an ornamental series of coins in all metals inscribed SAECVLARES AVGG, MILIARIVM SAECVLVM and SAECVLVM NOVVM. Other coins inscribed AETERNITAS AVGG and ROMAE AETERNAE bear general relevance to the celebration.
The reverse types are varied and exotic: a lion, gazelle, antelope, goat, stag, hippopotamus and elephant all relate to the games; the she-wolf and twins, the temple of Roma, and a low column (or cippus) relate to the event in general and represent a new age.
Unfortunately, the new age ushered in with the games was not happier, safer or more prosperous, but more tragic, violent and unsettled.
Collection : 30 Roman Sestertii, asses and dupondii