Roman coin find: sestertius with motif from Africa
The Salzburg archaeologist Ursula Schachinger dates the sestertius to the year 194 AD – minted exactly 1828 years ago in Rome under Emperor Septimius Severus. It also shows his portrait and must first be cleaned of impurities that have accumulated on the bronze over almost two millennia. Only then can you recognize the beautifully written motifs more precisely, says Natalie Fuchs, spokeswoman for the Salzburg Museum.
African motif so far unique
For specialists in archeology it is already clear: the face of the emperor is clearly recognizable on the obverse – with continuous, curly hair and a thick beard. On the back there is information about his birthplace in today’s Libya, North Africa, which at that time also belonged to the Roman Empire. The African continent IS symbolically represented as a woman to indicate the fertility of agriculture there as the granary of Rome. The lady wears an elephant’s head as headgear and holds grain ears in her arms. A lion sits next to it.
death in Britain
According to archeology, the special thing about the find is precisely this motif – the very first specimen on Salzburg soil. The “African” Septimius is said to have had a special relationship to the territory of today’s Austria and the Eastern Alps – probably also for strategic reasons against the Germans on the Danube. He died at the age of 64 on a campaign by the legions in present-day Great Britain – in the year 211. His reign is considered a relatively stable phase – almost 150 years before the first upheavals of the migration of peoples that led to the fall of Rome.
Emperor Septimius immortalized on many milestones
In general, sesterces are also “common finds” in Salzburg, says the archaeologist Ursula Schachinger. The Salzburg Museum’s collection has long contained a large number of Roman coins. According to ancient sources, Septimius Severus was proclaimed Roman Emperor by his legionnaires in the Vienna region (army camps Vindobona and Carnuntum).
There is evidence that the man later had important trunk roads built for trade purposes and his troop movements in the Salzburg region. According to the archaeologist Ulrike Hampl from the Salzburg Museum, Septimius Severus is often found here. Numerous ancient milestones would point to him: “For example, on the main route over the Radstädter Tauern, he was often immortalized as the top road builder,” says Hampl.
Archaeologist Ursula Schachinger adds that the discovery of the sesterce also proves that this money traveled long distances around 1,800 years ago. The coin is said to be in very good condition: “The surface structure shows soil adhesions caused by long storage in the ground.”
Beautifully Roman Salzburg near the Mönchsberg
The sestertius is now being cleaned manually by Maximilian Bertet, the Salzburg Museum’s graduate restorer. The coin relief is said to have been flattened or worn off as a result of its use at the time. From this it can be concluded that after it was minted in Rome it was used as a means of payment for a few decades – before someone lost it in what is now the courtyard of the toy museum. The coin find also shows how close the Roman settlements were once built to the Mönchsberg, says expert Schachinger.
Biographical information on Septimius Severus
After the assassination of Emperor Pertinax in Rome on March 28, 193, Septimius Severus was proclaimed Emperor in Carnuntum on the Danube on April 9 by the legions of Pannonia. In Rome, Didius Julianus had previously acquired the highest office from the Praetorians, but Septimius was able to draw on the majority of the legions in the empire. He rushed across the Alps into Italy and raised a large army to take Rome. Didius Julianus, who is said to have offered him divided rule, was murdered before his arrival. Septimius disbanded the Praetorian Guard and replaced it with a force loyal to him.
“Enrich the soldiers, despise all others”
In the last years of his rule, the native Libyan undertook several campaigns to secure his claim to power in Britain. In 208 the emperor, who was severely plagued by gout, traveled to the marked island with his sons Caracalla and Geta. His army advanced far north from Eboracum (present-day York) and ravaged among the tribes of the Celtic aborigines. Septimius ordered the renovation of Hadrian’s Wall to secure the border against the Caledonians (Scots) and Maeats. afterwards he stared in Eboracum on February 4, 211. Last words to his sons: “Be united, enrich the soldiers and despise all others.”