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.

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. 

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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