SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AD 193-211
AE20. 5.31g, 19.6mm
MINTED: MOESIA INFERIOR Marcianopolis, AD 193-211
REF: Varbanov 738
OBVERSE: [AV K Λ CE]-CEVHPOC, laureate head right.
REVERSE: MAPKIAN-OΠOΛITΩN, Tyche standing left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopia.
 
Provenance:
Ex Dr. George Spradling Collection
 
Notes:
Dark brown and green patina.  
The round pit-like identation on the obverse is an artifact of the production process of the coin at this provincial mint.  Though these are commonly called "centration dimples", they very likely have nothing to do with any attempt to center the coins during the striking process.  There are several theories that attempt to explain such identations, one of which is that they were left behind by a tool used to hold a flan in place while its surfaces were smoothed prior to its striking.  A further discussion can be found here: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/pit.html
 
Historical Notes:
Marcianopolis, located in present-day northeastern Bulgaria, was a Moesian city founded by Emperor Trajan and named after his sister, the empress Marciana.  It had pleasant nearby hot springs and was blessed with an advantageous location between ports on the Black Sea coast and cities further inland such as Nicopolis.  Despite being affected by Gothic incursions into the region in the mid 3rd century, Marcianopolis continued to thrive and was the largest city in Thrace in the 4th century.  In AD 447, it was sacked and destroyed by the armies of Attila the Hun.