Denarius, Emperor Septimius Severus - 194 to 195 CE - Roman Empire - 4/26/23 Auction

Includes complimentary glass top display box. Obverse: Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right Reverse: Minerva, helmeted, draped to feet, standing left, holding spear downward in right hand and round shield at side in left hand Description: The Roman denarius was an ancient silver coin that played a central role in the Roman economy from the late Republican era through the Imperial era. Originally, it was a high-quality silver coin, consisting of roughly 95% pure silver. However, as the Roman Republic transitioned into the Roman Empire, the silver content of the denarius gradually decreased in a process known as debasement. This allowed the government to produce more coins with the same amount of silver, which was primarily driven by the financial pressures of funding wars, infrastructure projects, and maintaining the empire's vast territories. As the silver content of the denarius decreased, it lost its intrinsic value, leading to inflation. Inflation is a general increase in the