Description
Roman Empire, Lūcius Septimius Sevērus Pertināx (Septimius Severus), Roman Emperor and Founder of the Severan Dynasty 193-211 AD, Silver Denarius (3.41g, 18mm), Legion XIII ‘Geminā’ commemorative issue, Rome mint 193 AD. Obverse: Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing to the right, legend surrounds, “IMP CAES SEP SEV PERT AVG”. Reverse: The Thirteenth Legion’s Aquila between two signa militaria, “TR P COS” in exergue, legend surrounds, “LEG XIII G[EM]”. RIC-13; RSC-269. Fairly soft in strike but an issue notorious for production issues – a moderately scarce commemorative issue which honours Septimius Severus’ 13th Legion which supported his claim to the Imperial throne, the reverse noteworthy with most devices on flan, near Very Fine.
The Latin legend spanning over the obverse and reverse exergue is the titulature of Emperor Septimius Severus, reading unabridged as “Imperātor Caesar Septimius Sevērus Pertināx Augustus, Tribūnīciā Potestas, Cōnsulāritās”, with an English translation of “Imperator Caesar Septimius Severus Pertinax Augustus, invested with Tribunician Power, honoured with the office of Consul”. The reverse Latin states the 13th Legion, unabridged as “legiō tertia decima Geminā”, translating in English as “the thirteenth ‘Twin’ Legion”.
After the assassination of Mārcus Dīdius Sevērus Iūliānus (Didius Julianus), the local garrison in Carnuntum, legiō quārta decima (XIV) Geminā Mārtia victrīx, proclaimed their commander, Lūcius Septimius Sevērus, as emperor. Although not the first to pledge their allegiance, legiō tertia decima (XIII) Geminā, stationed nearby in Apulum, Dacia, soon after pledged their full support, going on to be a vital part of the emperor’s march on Rome and defeat of his political rivals. This denarius was struck to commemorate the 13th Legion, exemplifying their role in the political events.
