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Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the sun god of the later Roman Empire and a patron of soldiers. In 274 the Roman emperor Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. The god was favored by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine. The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them. It is commonly claimed that the date of 25 December for Christmas was selected in order to correspond with the Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun."RS76091. Silver denarius, RIC IV 120, RSC III 440, BMCRE VI 930, Hunter III 66, SRCV II 7915, Choice gVF, excellent portrait, attractive style, excellent centering on a broad flan, light marks, light die wear, small flan crack, Rome mint, weight 2.929g, maximum diameter 20.8mm, die axis 0o, 233 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse P M TR P XII COS III P P, Sol standing left, radiate, nude but for cloak on shoulders billowing behind, raising right commanding the sun to rise, whip vertical behind in left; SOLD
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