Septimius Laodicea legend

[Lerian]

I purchased this coin a few days ago but can't seem to find the
variation in the obv legend listed, SEPE with an E.

OBV:  L  SEPE  SEVERVS  PER  AVG  PM  IMP  XI

REV:  PAR  AR  AD  TR_P  VI  COS  II  PP
Victory advancing left, holding palm and wreath.

Laodicea AD 198     RSC 361 var   RIC 495 var   BMC 625-6 var

Is this one of those variations that BMC points out and therefore well known ?


 

[curtislclay]

Nice coin!

Another with SEPE in Vienna, maybe from the same obv. die, I can check my cast at home tonight.

I've also seen SEPE with a Greek lambda for the first L of the legend, with rev. Trophy between captives, same rev. legend.

Did you notice the SEPE before or only after you bought the coin?

Can you tell us the weight, diameter, and die axis?

[Lerian]

Thank you Curtis.

I did notice the spelling before I put my bid on, however i did not think it that important due to the variations seen regarding the Eastern mint's.
It wasn't until I started to look up the ref's and search the internet I found no other examples around and was curious.

I will you know the weight etc as soon as it arrives in the post. 

One other point ( for a beginer), when you refer to Vienna, do you mean their national museum ? If so has it been published in the same way as BMC ?

[curtislclay]

Yes, the Coin Cabinet in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Austrian national, formerly imperial collection, equivalent to the BM in the UK. There is no recent publication of their extremely rich Roman collection.

[curtislclay]

Apparently the vendor himself noticed and pointed out the variant SEPE, since the third photo you reproduce focuses on that part of the legend?

[Lerian]

No, the third photo I produced by using the vendors image in order to show the legend for this post.

[curtislclay]

Well spotted, then!

[curtislclay]

Your coin is from the same dies on both sides as the Vienna specimen.

[Lerian]

Now that the coin has arrived I can update the following.

W = 3.15g   Diameter 19 mm

For the die axis,
if you turn the upright head on the obv downwards (towards 6 o'clock) and over then on the rev Victory's head is now at 2 o'clock and the base line is pointing from 7-9 o'clock.

Yes I am a little confused but I am sure the more experianced can make sense of that.

[curtislclay]

Here is the same obv. legend error coupled with rev. SALVTI AVGG.

Must also be the same obv. die, to judge from the same hairline die break from the X of IMP XI, through the I and the point of the emperor's bust, to the L and S of L SEPE.

Your coin also shows a break from the top of the I of IMP to the border of dots, right?

3.08g, 1h. From Savoca Coins London, Blue E3, 9 June 2019, lot 1091; dealer's picture below.

[Lerian]

Your coin also shows a break from the top of the I of IMP to the border of dots, right?

Yes it does Curtis.

Comparing your example the line (I think it's called a guideline?) running under the bust also seems to fit exactly.

Did you also notice the E or was it pointed out by the auction house?   

[curtislclay]

I think it is a random die break in this case, attached to the break at the center of the X of IMP XI, rather than a guideline, since guidelines are usually longer and circular, maintaining a constant distance from the center of the die.

The line from the chin of the snake to Salus' knee on the rev. also appears to be a die break.

Fortunately for me the dealer had not noticed the legend error, with the result that there was minimal competition for the coin!