Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, 14. Septimius Severus, HrHJ (2018) 8.14.08.24 var. #1 (plate coin)

Septimius Severus, AD 193-211
AE 17, 2.24g, 17.38mm, 180°
obv. AV - C - CEVHROC
laureate head r.
rev. NIKOP - OLI PROC
Dionysos, nude, stg. l., holding drinking horn in r. hand and resting
with l. hand on ribboned thyrsos.
ref. a) not in AMNG:
rev. AMNG I/1, 1378 var. (depiction, but holding bunch of grapes)
legend not listed
obv. legend not listed
b) not in Varbanov (engl.)
c) Hristova/Hoeft/Jekov (2018) No. 8.14.8.24 var. (plate coin, has AV L C)
very rare, brown patina, a bit corroded

The strange object is not a kantharos and not a bunch of grapes. We have discussed it on FORVM and the most likely suggestion was a drinking horn. On a coin of Gordian III from Berytos Dionysos holds a rhyton (BMC 245).

Additional comment of Pat Lawrence: The head of Septimius looks like the work of that surviver from Commodus's worst dies who did anonymous Septimius in the time of Auspex (and, of course, possibly later—though we have no signed ones as evidence—since a change of governor might not entail getting rid of a reliable engraver who could make usable dies). We know from his Apollo Sauroktonos that he sometimes put into hands shapes that might be ivy or snake or whatever.