Denario¹, zecca di Roma, 225² d.C., RIC IV/II 139c, BMC VI 222, C IV 52, indice di rarità "C"

D. IMP C M AVR SEV - ALEXAND AVG³ . Testa di Severo Alessandro a destra, laureata, busto drappeggiato.
R. FIDES - M - I - LITVM⁴. La Fides in piedi di fronte, testa a sinistra sorregge uno stendardo in ciascuna mano.

La ricerca nel web di monete identiche a quella di figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:

1. http://www.imagescgb.com/images/monnaies/rome/r04/r04_0036.jpg SÉVÈRE ALEXANDRE - (10/05/221-22/03/235) Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander - Auguste (13/03/222-22/03/235) 36. Denier, 225, Rome, 5ème ém., 2ème off., (Ar, 19 mm., 12 h., 3,18 g.). (pd. th. 3,38 g.). A/ IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG. ""Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus"". Buste lauré d'Alexandre Sévère à droite avec paludamentum, vu de trois quarts en arrière (A*21). R/ FIDES MILITVM. "(La Fidélité des Armées)". Fides (La Fidélité) debout de face, regardant à gauche, tenant une enseigne dans chaque main. C.52 - RIC.139c - BMC.220. Très beau portrait. Jolie monnaie. TTB+ 450FF. Selon l'Histoire Auguste, Alexandre ne possédait guère de qualité militaire; il s'agit peut-être du seul reproche que cet ouvrage adresse au jeune prince. Evitant les conflits, préférant les traités de paix, Alexandre est assassiné par des soldats de son armée. Ironie du sort, la "Fidélité des Armées", présente au revers de ce denier, lui fit défaut. Alexandre Sévère, César à 16 ans, Auguste à 17, marié à 20, assassiné à 30 est le dernier rejeton de la famille des Sévères. L'Histoire Auguste le présente comme un modèle de modération et l'exemple du bon souverain. Il faut certainement atténuer ce jugement. Le jeune empereur fut dominé par les femmes, sa mère Julia Mamée et sa grand-mère Julia Maesa qui mourut au début du règne. C'est sa mère qui lui choisit sa femme, Orbiane, puis la relégua quand elle trouva qu'elle prenait trop d'influence sur son fils. Ce fils modèle qui avait reçu une éducation traditionnelle romaine ne commit qu'une seule faute, mais impardonnable pour le IIIème siècle : il n'est pas un chef militaire. Les soldats ne lui pardonnèrent pas et il fut finalement assassiné en 235 sur le limes rhénan près de Mayence.
2. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s7864.html *AAH* Severus Alexander Den "Fides"SUPERB !!!! Severus Alexander AD 222-235 Silver Denarius "Alexander has the faith and trust of his Imperial troopers." Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG - Laureate bust right, draped. Rev: FIDES MILITVM - Fides standing left and holding a standard in each hand. Rome mint: AD 225 = RIC IVii, 139c, page 82 - Cohen 52 - SEAR RCV II (2002), #7864, page 644 (VF $25 - XF $75)/ 2.96 g. Coin sold at 09/02/2005 (dd/mm/yyyy) Final sale value in local currencies GBP 41.57 USD 77.09 JPY 8156.92 AUD 100.63 RUB 2173.94 CAD 96.19 EUR 60.38
3. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.1-o.jpg
4. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.1-r.jpg

ORC45 - SEVERUS ALEXANDER Denarius Fides, VF+ Severus Alexander, AR denarius, IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / FIDES MILITVM, Fides, personifying good faith, loyalty, and confidence, between two legionary standards, in an appeal to the troops. Struck about 225 A.D., showing the 17 year old Alexander with side whiskers. RSC 52; RIC 139, (2.9 gm.), VF+, nice strike. Marcus Julius Gessius Alexianus was adopted at the age of 13 by his cousin the Emperor, Elagabalus, at the insistence of the family matriarch, Julia Maesa. This set-up enabled Maesa to have the despised Elagabalus killed the following year, with Alexander being hailed by the troops as Emperor. Because of his youth, his grandmother exercised control behind the scenes, but neither one was popular with the army. This proved fatal to them in 235, during a war with the Germans, when their own troops executed them. Currently$24.00 Dec-19-00
5. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.2.jpg COIN: Sears#2206, laur. hd. r., Obverse Inscription - IMP CM AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Reverse Inscription - FIDES MILITUM fides std. l., holding two standards Buyer to pay $3.50 for insured shipping/handling. $27.00 08/16/99
6. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.3.jpg Severus Alexander Den "Fides" SWEET Severus Alexander AD 222-235 Silver Denarius "The loyal and faithful military" Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG - Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed. Rev: FIDES MILITVM - Fides standing front, head left, with a standard in each hand.2.3gm. Rome mint AD 222-228 = RIC 139c - Cohen 52 $26.00 Nov-07-01
7. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.4.jpg *AAH* Severus Alexander Den "Fides" Severus Alexander AD 222-235 Silver Denarius "Alexander has the faith and trust of his Imperial troopers." Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG - Laureate bust right, draped. Rev: FIDES MILITVM - Fides standing left and holding a standard in each hand. Rome mint: AD 225 = RIC IVii, 139c, page 82 - Cohen 52 - SEAR RCV II (2002), #7864, page 644 (VF $25 - XF $75)/ 3.02 g. Coin sold at 14/07/2004 (dd/mm/yyyy) Final sale value in local currencies GBP 8.92 USD 16.55 JPY 1799.49 AUD 22.84 RUB 482.10 CAD 21.83 EUR 13.43
8. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.5.jpg *AAH* Severus Alexander Den "Fides" Severus Alexander AD 222-235 Silver Denarius "Alexander has the faith and trust of his Imperial troopers." Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG - Laureate bust right, draped. Rev: FIDES MILITVM - Fides standing left and holding a standard in each hand. Rome mint: AD 225 = RIC IVii, 139c, page 82 - Cohen 52 - SEAR RCV II (2002), #7864, page 644 (VF $25 - XF $75)2.86g Coin sold at 02/08/2004 (dd/mm/yyyy) Final sale value in local currencies GBP 7.16 USD 13.05 JPY 1449.59 AUD 18.55 RUB 379.88 CAD 17.35 EUR 10.82
9. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/RIC_0139.6.jpg AR Denarius. 2.877 grams. Mint A.D. 222-228. Obverse: IMP. C. M. AVR. SEV. ALEXAND. AVG. Head, laureate, r., bust draped. Reverse: FIDES MILITVM. Fides standing l., holding two standards. RIC 82, 139. Cohen 52. Very Fine+ $22.00 Aug-08-01
10. http://www.coinscatalog.com/coin_view.php?id_catalog_int=41112009 Severus Alexander as Augustus AD 222 - 235 (11 March AD 222 - 19 March 235) Silver AR Denarius Rome mint AD 222-228 Coins Catalog ID: 2009 Rarity: common Price (USD) VF: $25, XF: $45, FDC: $90 Image courtesy of: Galleria Antiquarica Sales Description Obverse: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG - Laureate head right. Reverse: FIDES MILITVM - Fides standing left and holding a standard in each hand. References: RIC, vol. IV ii, p. 82, 139 Cohen 52 Severus Alexander - Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander (earlier Gessius Bassianus Alexianus) called Alexander Severus. Son of Julia Mamaea; Husband of Orbiana; Grandson of Julia Maesa; Hephew of Julia Soaemias; Cousin of Elagabalus; Great-nephew of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. AD 221 - 222 - Caesar under Elagabalus AD 222 - 235 - Augustus Mints: Antioch, Rome. Biography: Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, known as Severus Alexander was a cousin of Elagabalus and like him and a priest of the Sun-God in Edessa and related to Julia Domna, Septimius Severus wife. Elagabalus made him Caesar in 221 under the instigation of his grandmother, Julia Maesa, and after the murder of Elagabalus, perhaps because he became too suspicious of Alexander, the latter ascended the throne. Another teen in purple, the real government in the hands of his mother, Julia Mamaea, spelled trouble. The Praetorians became restless and murdered their Prefect, the great lawyer Ulpian, who had been too strict for their taste. Another prominent man, the historian Dio Cassius, had to leave Rome to save himself from similar fate. Mamaea and Maesa strengthened the position of the emperor, and their own, by establishing a senatorial committee to advise the youngster, thus giving a show of deference to the Senate. Distributions of grain to the population were continuously made, and public works proceeded at a good pace while taxes were diminished. The Empire calmed down, but then a new threat arose in the east, the reconsolidated Persian Empire. In 230 Mamaea and Alexander departed to the East to deal with the Persians, who had overrun Mesopotamia and threatened Syria and the rest of Asia. Negotiations for two years failed and in 232 the decision was taken of an all-out effort to contain and roll back the Persian conquests. Three separate Roman armies got involved, with mixed results, but Mesopotamia was taken back and in the autumn of 233 Mamaea and Alexander decided it was safe to go back to Rome, where a grandiose triumph was celebrated. There it became clear that an even greater danger were the advances of the Alamanni on the Rhine frontier, and 234 the emperor and him mother set off for Moguntium. The legions there were strangers to him however, and jealous of the favors he had bestowed upon his eastern soldiers. When March 245 Alexander attempted to buy off the Germans instead of confronting them, the Rhine and Danubian soldiers deserted him and acclaimed a Danubian general, Maximinus, as emperor. As Maximinus turned against the imperial couple, their eastern guards seized them and put them to death at Vicus Britannicus. 

 

Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
 

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Note:
(1)Di seguito riporto le caratteristiche fisiche di 5 denari di tipologia identica a quella di figura censiti da BMC VI:
 

Il peso del denario durante il regno Severo Alessandro variava sensibilmente, concentrandosi principalmente nella fascia 2,20÷3,65g.
(2)Secondo il sito francese http://www.inumis.com/rome/articles/alexandre/alexandre3.html la moneta fu battuta nel 225 dalla seconda officina della zecca di Roma come quinta emissione nel nome di questo sovrano.
(3)IMPerator Caesar Marcus AVRelius SEVeverus ALEXANDer AVGustus. Per la sintesi storica su Severo Alessandro si rimanda ad altra pagina di questo sito (cliccare qui) oppure al riassunto cronologico all'interno del sito francese http://www.i-numis.com/rome/articles/alexandre/alexandre.html.
(4)Fides Militvm. La Fedeltà dei soldati. Severo Alessandro fu assassinato, assieme a sua madre, Giulia Mamea, dai soldati della guardia del corpo.