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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

Unrecorded Medallion of Otacilia Severa

167, Lot: 176. Estimate $500.
Sold for $1255. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Otacilia Severa. Wife of Philip I, Augusta, AD 244-249. Æ Medallion (33mm, 38.25 g). MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right / PIETAS AVGVSTAE, Otacilia standing facing left, hands raised in blessing over four youths, a boy and girl on each side of her, each holding palm fronds. Cf. Gnecchi pl. 107, 10 = Banti 10 = Cohen 50. VF, rough surfaces with irregular corrosion deposits. This medallion was originally bi-metallic, but the outer ring has not survived. Rare.


The Vienna specimen, cited by all three references, is slightly different from this example. On the Vienna specimen, Otacilia rests her hand on one of the youths, all of whom appear to be female, only one of whom holds an uncertain object, not a palm frond. Other medals and sestertii refer to the Pietas of Otacilia, usually as relating to her role as the mother of the Caesar, Philip II. While it is known that Otacilia had two children, Philip and another girl, the four youths must represent something else. The depiction of the empress with children is found elsewhere on coins and medals and usually interpreted as the empress supporting social programs for orphans and the poor- alimentia. The procession of the empress accompanied by youths bearing palms must be a public ceremony, possibly a distribution in connection with the celebration of Rome’s millennium in AD 248.