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Superb Severus' Solidus
Lot # 443
Libius Severus (Severus III, 461-465). AV Solidus. Rome mint. Obv. DN LIBIVS SEVE-RVS PF AVG. Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. VICTORI-A AVGGG. Severus standing facing, right foot on human-headed serpent, holding long cross and Victory; R-M across fields; in exergue, COMOB. RIC X 2704; Depeyrot 52/1; Lacam 59. AV. 4.38 g. 20.50 mm. RRR. Extremely rare. About EF. On November of 461, Libius Severus was proclaimed emperor by Ricimer at Ravenna, and other than the fact that he was a native of Lucania, nothing else of this emperor is known. He ruled for four years and was little more than a puppet of Ricimer, in fact some of his small Æ’s even have Ricimer’s monogram as the reverse type. Severus died in 465, presumably of natural causes, quite a remarkable achievement during the final 30 years of the Western Roman empire.