Otacilia Severa - Hippopotamus

December 2024

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Issued under husband, Philip I ("The Arab"), for the Saecular Games in conjunction with 1000th Year of Rome. The events and celebration occurred in 248 A.D.
In my attempt to assemble a representative group of all the coins issued during the Saecular Games (Millennial), I had to acquire all of the animal coins issued under Philip I, his wife and son included. I looked at many versions of the Hippo reverse and this is one of the best and most representative of this scarce type. Many of the engravers had never seen a hippo and missed several features that made many versions confusing. One looked like a bear with claws on it's paws. Truth is there may actually be a bear reverse type that has yet to be described for the series.
AR Antoninianus: Diademed and draped bust on a crescent, right. OTACIL SEVERA AVG. Rx: Hippopotamus walking right with head up (some versions may be down); SAECVLARES AVGG.; IIII in ex.
C 63, RIC 116b, S2533.
VIEW & DOWNLOAD: Three articles on the Saecular Games and the Roman Millennium of 248 A.D. at these links: Saecular Games by Illingworth: [ link ]
Animals Mark the Roman Millennium: [ link ]
The Roman Millennium: [ link ]