clipped julia domna silver denarii?

[aragon6]

I have quite an abundance of these silver coins and I am amazed how thick a good number of them are.  They are not very big, about 14 - 16 mm but are about twice the normal thickness of other denarii with their weight being the same as a lot of my other silver denarii of 18mm.  I always considered these coins to be clipped as the inscription details are not complete but considering their weight I am not sure now.  Any ideas??

[Joe Sermarini]

From 193 to 199 the denarii were smaller and thicker than other periods.  That is why so many Septimius Severus denarii have legends at least partially off the flans.  Even the denarii from the mint in Rome were smaller and thicker during the period.  Here are some examples from FORVM's Catalog:


4687. Silver denarius, RIC 106, Cohen 580, BMC 234, VF, 2.94g, 17.8mm, 180°, Rome mint, 197 A.D.; obverse L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head right; reverse PROFECTIO AVG, Septimius on horse pacing right, holding spear; $35  

Notice the flan is only 17.8mm at its widest point and the entire legend cannot fit on the coin.  From 193 to 199 this is typical.  They just didn't seem to care about getting the entire design on the coin.


3739. Silver denarius, RIC 53, RSC 380, BMC 69, c. 2.7g, 18.3mm, 180°, Rome mint, 194-195 A.D.; obverse L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IIII, laureate head right; reverse P M TR P III COS II P P, Minerva standing left holding shield and spear; This Minerva reverse type available in aF or better (not as nice as the coin above) $25


3750. Silver denarius, RIC 113, RSC 315, VF, 3.14g, 16.6mm, 180°, Rome mint 197-198 A.D.; obverse L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP X, laureate head right; reverse MARTI PACIFERO, Mars standing left, foot on cuirass, holding branch and spear; This Mars reverse type available in aF or better (not as nice as the coin above) $25


Coins struck for Julia Domna, Caracalla and Geta were the same during the period.


2996. Silver denarius, RIC 538, RSC 221, aVF, 2.03g, 18.1mm, 180°, Rome mint, 193-196 A.D.; obverse IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust right; reverse VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium and scepter; scarce, $30



3492. Silver denarius, RIC 13b, RSC 505, BMC 208, gVF, frosty surfaces, 2.43g, 16.8mm, 180°, Rome mint, 196-198 A.D.; obverse M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, draped, cuirassed bust right; reverse PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caracalla standing left holding baton and spear, to right, trophy; type available in fine or better (not as nice as the coin above) most on small irregular flans as typical for Severus before 199 A.D., $25

If you look in FORVM's catalog you will find quite a few denarii from the period 193-199 that have fuller flans.  The average flan was smaller and thicker, but every flan is different.  The coins in our catalog were selected from a group of more than 300 Severan dynasty denarii.  One criteria for selection was a larger flan.  

Below is an example of a larger thinner flan from after 199.


3713. Silver denarius, RIC 295, Cohen 744, BMC 365, EF, 3.49g, 18.9mm, 0°, Rome mint, 202-210 A.D.; obverse SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right; reverse VICT PART MAX, Victory advancing left holding palm and wreath; $60

The difference is somewhat subtle, but once you know it exists you will notice it more often.