194 NGC Ch VF Septimius Severus Denarius Roman Empire Liberalitas Laodicea Mint (18030702C)

Laodicea ad Mare Eastern Mint denarius, 3.07g, RIC 455 (scarce) issued AD 194.  NGC Certified to Ch VF. Obverse: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP II, laureate bust right Reverse: LIBER AVG, Liberalitas standing left holding coin dispenser and cornumpia. Liberalitas is the Roman personnification of largesse or generosity. She is usually shown holding a Cornucopia and a coin dispensing box. Donatives were made by the Emperor to the Roman people and the Legions. Emperors often commemorated their acts of public generosity by issuing a coin bearing a the Goddess Liberalitas. It is quite possible that the denarii being scattered during a Donative were like the one offered here.