FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Coin of the Day => Topic started by: Ron C2 on May 29, 2021, 10:30:51 pm

Title: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: Ron C2 on May 29, 2021, 10:30:51 pm

Really happy to have this one arrive today.  Great reverse with Bacchus pouring while onto a panther and holding thyrsus. Great flow lines and just a super denarius all around.  Love the early ones from Septimius with higher purity silver like this.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=170530 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=170530)

Title: Re: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: Jay GT4 on May 29, 2021, 11:29:22 pm

Nice one Ron.  Not one you see often,

Title: Re: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: okidoki on May 30, 2021, 04:18:06 am

very nice

Title: Re: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: RL on May 30, 2021, 05:23:52 am

Very interesting reverse and a great portrait - it's the perfect picture for the man Gibbon describes! https://www.ccel.org/ccel/gibbon/decline/files/volume1/chap5.htm

Title: Re: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: Ron C2 on May 30, 2021, 09:30:45 am

Thanks guys. I really like the pre-195 Severan denarii, they just look and feel better in hand, on average.

this one is really interesting, I'm not sure why the panther is prancing with it's head upstretched and Bacchus is pouring wine into its mouth.  That must have symbolized something in 193 CE, but I'm not sure what that was apart from being fascinating.  The ancient Greeks believed the panther was one of the favored mounts of the god Dionysus, and Bacchus (and Liber Pater) are thought to be the same God, just named differently in Rome than in Greece, so maybe Liber's mount subsisted on Wine? 

Here's a neat image I scabbed from the net showing the "panther" connection, though it looks more like a Cheetah to me:
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/51928/panther.jpg)

I acquired a couple other nice denarii at the same time, but this one was my favorite.  The other two were posted in my member's gallery post.  Comments on all my coins are always very welcome in my gallery :)

Title: Re: Septimius Severus denarius bacchus/Liber COTD
Post by: Tracy Aiello on May 30, 2021, 11:27:03 am

Beautiful coin indeed, Ron, and yes, what a great reverse.

Tracy