The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, 193-211 A.D. on a silver denarius. His head is crowned with a laurel wreath and his beard shows three spikes associated with the iconography of his favored Egyptian god, Serapis.
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The obverse legend reads "SEVERVS AVG PART MAX"

(beginning at 6:30 on the coin, and without spaces to conveniently separate words).
It gives part of his name,

  • SEVERVS (They used a "V" for our "U"), and three of his titles:
  • "AVG" abbreviates "Augustus", the Roman term for "emperor". [again, a "V" for our "U"].
  • "PART" abbreviates "Parthicus" (conqueror of the Parthians, who ruled in what is now Iraq and Iran)
  • "MAX" abbreviates "Maximus" (the greatest).

    • The reverse design shows the emperor in military gear at a religious sacrifice, pouring from a bowl (patera) over a sacred fire on a tripod. His spear is reversed (point down) to symbolize the peace resulting from his victories. The legend refers to his restoring of the city (Rome), presumably by building and repairing buildings. 

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    The reverse legend reads "RESTITVTOR VRBIS".

  • RESTITVTOR = Restorer
  • VRBIS = City [again note the use of "V" for "U"] "Urb" is seen in English words for city like "urban" and "suburb."

    • So the reverse legend is "Restorer of the city (Rome)."

    Click here for more about legends.

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