Ave!

Septimius Severus, Denarius, Father Liber Reverse, Scarce!

Silver; 17mm/3.1gm     Rome, struck ca. 197-198 AD

Con/ Struck on a short flan and typical soft strike on the reverse, otherwise, about Very Fine.

Obv/ L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII; laureate head right.

Rev/ LIBERO PATRI; Father Liber (Bacchus) standing right, head left, holding thyrsus, right hand on head, crowning himself, panther at his feet.

Ref/ RIC Vol IVa 99; RSC 304

Seller's Note/ Father Liber was the Roman equivalent of the Greek Bacchus, the Hellenistic god of wine, and was adopted to the Roman pantheon at a very early age. One of his attributes was a panther, and another was his thyrsus, his magical staff ornamented with vine leaves, both seen on this issue.