Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, Septimius Severus, bronze coin — Zeus enthroned right (CN type 23783)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 193–211

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Olbia under Septimius Severus, dated AD 193–211. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23783 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate head of Septimius Severus, right. Legend: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΛΟΥ ϹЄΠ ϹЄΟΥΗΡΟϹ Π ϹЄΒΑ. Reverse: Zeus enthroned right, left hand outstretched, right resting on sceptre. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 6.05 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 21–23 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 555; Anochin, Monety antičnych gorodov Severo-Zapadnogo Pričernomor'ja, Kiev 1989, nr. 388; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2883-2887.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Septimius Severus served as Roman emperor from 193 to 211, seizing power during the Year of the Five Emperors following the death of Pertinax. Pontic Olbia, an ancient Greek city founded in the 7th century BC on the Southern Bug estuary by colonists from Miletus, operated as a major commercial emporium on the Black Sea. This bronze coin was struck at Olbia under the authority of the Roman Empire during the reign of Septimius Severus between AD 193 and 211.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
21–23 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
6.05 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Olbia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Septimius Severus

Design

Obverse type
Laureate head of Septimius Severus, right.
Reverse type
Zeus enthroned right, left hand outstretched, right resting on sceptre.
Obverse legend
ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΛΟΥ ϹЄΠ ϹЄΟΥΗΡΟϹ Π ϹЄΒΑ
Reverse legend
ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤWΝ

Identification

Period
Roman Imperial Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/23783
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23783

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference