ITEM: Modern pendant with Septimius Severus denarius MATERIAL: Silver CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 18 mm diameter CONDITION: Good condition. Original coin within a modern handmade circular silver setting. PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired in the 1990s (Coin) Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. Septimius Severus (145–211 CE) was a Roman emperor who founded the Severan dynasty and ruled from 193 to 211 CE. Born in Leptis Magna (in modern-day Libya), he rose through the ranks of the Roman military and political system, eventually becoming governor of several provinces. After the assassination of Emperor Pertinax in 193 CE, Severus seized power during the turbulent Year of the Five Emperors. His strong military backing allowed him to eliminate rivals and consolidate his control over the empire. As emperor, Septimius Severus focused on strengthening and reforming the Roman army. He increased soldiers’ pay, allowed them to marry while in service, and relied heavily on their loyalty to maintain stability. He also expanded Rome’s frontiers through successful campaigns in the East and in Britain, where he fortified Hadrian’s Wall and launched campaigns in Caledonia (modern Scotland). These actions enhanced the empire’s security but also placed significant financial strain on its treasury. Severus is remembered as a pragmatic and authoritarian ruler who laid the foundation for a more militarized Roman state. He centralized power in the hands of the emperor and reduced the Senate’s influence, setting a precedent that shaped the empire for the following decades. When he died in 211 CE in Eboracum (modern York, England), he left the empire to his sons, Caracalla and Geta, urging them to stay united and maintain military strength — advice they soon ignored, leading to further conflict.