Septimius Severus denarius with curious bust

[timka]

Hi,

The bust of this Septimius Severus denarius looks a bit out ordinary for me. There is a distinctive curve going underneath which probably implies a cuirass. Also, generally the bust looks like seeing from front, not from back.

RIC 88b notes both aureus and denarius with cuirassed and draped bust. So, I wonder should this one to be refered to RIC 88b (as draped&cuirassed), or it is still a common laureate head right RIC 88a-???

ob.L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII,  Septimius Severus laureate, right (or cuirassed)
rev.P M TR P V COS II P P Pax, draped, seated left, holding branch in extended right hand

RIC 88 (a. or b. -?)

19mm - 3,34g - 6h

Thank you for your time advance.

Best,

Z.

[okidoki]

Hi Timka,

it looks more like a baldric strap over shoulder
seen on early Hadrian busts, but only seen on front and not like here
 
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-128521

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-125340

[maridvnvm]

This is just a line to delineate the botton of the bust and is normal on this type. See mine.

[timka]

Eric, thank you for a nice idea of a baldric strap!

Martin, thank you for clearing this up...I am not so familiar with this type as you are))), so that line looked a bit uncommon for me!

Best,

   

[curtislclay]

Not RIC 88a (Rome), but RIC 489a, the new-style Eastern version of the same coin.

[timka]

Not RIC 88a (Rome), but RIC 489a, the new-style Eastern version of the same coin.

Curtis, thank you for giving a hand. I guess you meant 490a. There are 4 coins like this here http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.4.ss.490A_denarius

Does it mean that Martins coin is also 490a, or it is Roman?
 

[curtislclay]

Yes, RIC 490a.

Martin's coin is also Eastern, as he certainly already knew.

However the fourth coin shown in your link is mint of Rome, not new-style Eastern ("Laodicea").