Æ28 - Septimius Severus ΑΜΑϹΤΡΙΑΝΩΝ

Amastris, originally founded as a synoikism of four smaller settlements by the Pontic princess Amastris around 300 BC, retained unusual civic pride in its Greek identity well into the Roman imperial period. Issues under Septimius Severus from this mint tend to cluster in the early part of his reign, likely reflecting a burst of loyalty coinage following the civil wars of 193–197 that brought him to power against Pescennius Niger — whose support base lay uncomfortably close to this region of Pontus.