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Libius Severus
Libius Severus (Severus III). AD 461-465. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.44 g, 12h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint. Struck AD 462-465. Rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Severus, wearing military attire, standing facing, foot on human-headed serpent coiled below, holding long cross and Victory on globe left; M|D//COMOB. RIC X 2723 (same dies as illustrated example); Toffanin 523/2; Lacam Type A, Variety C and pls. XCIV (fourth illustration) and 17, 39 (same dies); Depeyrot 27/3 (same dies as illustrated example); Biaggi 2372 (same dies). Ex. Wayne Scheible Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 127, 18 September 2024), lot 663. Ex. Marc Poncin Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 72, 14 June 2006), lot 1943.
Libius Severus, also known as Severus III, was a Roman emperor who reigned during the late Western Roman Empire, from 461 to 465 CE. His tenure is emblematic of the decline of Roman imperial authority, as real power had shifted to influential generals and barbarian warlords. Severus’s reign is marked by obscurity and ineffectiveness, reflecting the turbulent times of the fifth century.
Born in Lucania, Severus was an aristocrat of no significant military or political stature before his elevation. He became emperor as a puppet of the powerful magister militum (master of soldiers) Ricimer, a Germanic general who wielded significant influence over the remnants of the Western Empire. Ricimer’s intention was to control the empire through a pliable figurehead, and Severus, lacking any strong independent base of support, was a perfect candidate.
Severus’s reign was marked by the fragmentation of imperial authority. The empire was under siege from various external forces, including the Vandals, Visigoths, and other barbarian groups. Internally, political instability and economic challenges further weakened the state. Severus struggled to assert his authority, even in Rome and Italy, where Ricimer maintained dominance. His inability to secure recognition from the Eastern Roman Emperor, Leo I, highlights the diminishing prestige of the Western emperor.
Libius Severus’s death in 465 remains mysterious, though some speculate Ricimer orchestrated it to make way for another ruler. His reign represents a symbolic low point in the history of the Western Roman Empire, which would collapse a mere decade later in 476. Severus’s legacy, though largely forgotten, underscores the decline of centralized imperial power and the fragmentation that characterized the twilight of Roman rule in the West.
Coins of Libius Severus are rare, and soldi come to market less often than tremisses. Late Roman soldi often have issues such as clipping, damage, or bent flans. This solidus has no such technical issues and is quite appealing. It does have some honest wear and is currently the lowest grade coin in the Roma Aeterna collection. But at the same time any solidus of Libius Severus is a treasure.