TYPE Roman Empire, Otacilia Severa (247-9 AD), silver antoninianus, struck 248 AD DESCRIPTION . Obv: Crescent bust to right, legend: OTACIL SEVERA AVG Rev: Hippopotamus standing to r., looking up, legend SAECVLARES AVGG, IIII in ex. REFERENCE: SR 2633, RSC 64 GRADING: VF+, typical light porosity, rev. bit soft struck, scarce ORDER INFO: R2851, $135 A popular type from the "Saeculares" series, issued in conjunction with celebrations of Rome's millenium in 248 AD, at which time a new era (or 'seaculum', and hence our term 'secular') was proclaimed. The reverse hippo and other exotic animals from the series issustrate the accompanying lavish "saecular games", where they were displayed and slaughtered. Despite the pomp, Rome was well past its heyday, its hollowness illustrated by the fact it was presided over by Otacilia's husband, the son of an Arab sheikh (according to some, even a crypto-Christian), who was soon to perish in yet another bloody civil war.