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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Severan Period| ▸ |Severus Alexander||View Options:  |  |  |   

Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.

Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was promoted from Caesar to Augustus after the murder of his cousin, Elagabalus. His reign was marked by great economic prosperity, and he enjoyed great success against the barbarian tribes. His mother Julia Mamaea was the real power in the empire, controlling her son's policies and even his personal life with great authority. Severus had an oratory where he prayed under the edict, written on the wall, "Do not unto others what you would not have done to yourself" and the images of various prophets including Mithras, Zoroaster, Abraham, and Jesus. Mutinous soldiers led by Maximinus I murdered both Severus Alexander and his mother.

|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
This coin was dedicated to Jupiter, the defender, probably to ask for protection the emperor in his war against the Persians. As Jupiter was the king of the gods, he took more interest in kings and emperors than the common man.
SL114187. Silver denarius, RIC IV 238, RSC III 83, BMCRE VI 824, Hunter III 71, SRCV II 7871, NGC CH MS*, strike 5/5, surface 5/5 (2406773-001), weight 2.74 g, maximum diameter 21 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with a short neatly trimmed beard, seen from the front; reverse IOVI PROPVGNATORI (Jupiter the Defender), Jupiter standing slightly left in fighting attitude, head right, nude but for cloak flying behind, hurling thunderbolt with right, eagle in extended left hand; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup; $900.00 (€846.00)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
Jupiter or Jove, Zeus to the Greeks, was the king of the gods and god of the sky and thunder, and of laws and social order. As the patron deity of ancient Rome, he was the chief god of the Capitoline Triad, with his sister and wife Juno. The father of Mars, he is, therefore, the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. Emperors frequently made vows to Jupiter for protection. The Roman's believed as the king of the gods, Jupiter favored emperors and kings, those in positions of authority similar to his own.
RS112402. Silver denarius, RSC III 229, BMCRE VI 87, RIC IV 19, SRCV II -, EF, choice obv., nice portrait, rev. a little off center, part of edge ragged, weight 2.602 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 223 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse P M TR P II COS P P (high priest, holder of Tribunitian power for two years, consul, father of the country), Jupiter standing slightly left, head left, nude but for cloak over shoulder, thunderbolt in right, long scepter grounded and vertical behind in left; $200.00 (€188.00)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||sestertius|
In 232, Severus Alexander launched a counterattack against the Persian forces of King Ardashir I, who had invaded Mesopotamia. Alexander gave the order to march to the capital at Ctesiphon, but was defeated and withdrew to Syria. After heavy losses on both sides, a truce was signed.
RB112558. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC IV 648d, BMCRE VI 906, Hunter III 180, Cohen IV 549, SRCV II 8019 var. (sl. dr.), aVF, excellent portrait, nice green patina, well centered, scratches, scattered light corrosion, flan cracks, weight 20.231 g, maximum diameter 30.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 232 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse SPES PVBLICA (the hope of the public), Spes advancing left, flower in right hand, raising skirt with left hand, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking across field; $170.00 (€159.80)
 


Severus Alexander and Julia Maesa, 222 - 235 A.D., Ninica-Claudiopolis, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Severus| |Alexander| |and| |Julia| |Maesa,| |222| |-| |235| |A.D.,| |Ninica-Claudiopolis,| |Cilicia||AE| |36|
Ammianus mentions Silifke and Claudiopolis as cities of Cilicia, or of the country drained by the Calycadnus; and Claudiopolis was a colony of Claudius Caesar. It is described by Theophanes of Byzantium as situated in a plain between the two Taurus Mountains, a description which exactly, corresponds to the position of the basin of the Calycadnus. Claudiopolis may therefore be represented by Mut, which is higher up the valley than Seleucia, and near the junction of the northern and western branches of the Calycadnus. It is also the place to which the pass over the northern Taurus leads from Laranda. The city received the Roman colony name Colonia Iulia Felix Augusta Ninica.
RB91011. Bronze AE 36, cf. asiaminorcoins.com 6551 (same obv. die & c/m), SNG Levante -, RPC Online -, SNG BnF -, SNG Cop -, BMC Cilicia -, c/m: Howgego 262, F, weak legends, porosity, edge cracks, weight 17.901 g, maximum diameter 35.8 mm, die axis 180o, Ninica-Claudiopolis (Mut, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 222 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP C SEVERUS ALEXANΔER AVΓ (or similar), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; c/m: Nike right in c. 5 x 8 mm oval punch (3 times); reverse IVL MAECA COL IVL FEL NINIO CLAUΔIOPOLI (or similar), draped bust of Julia Maesa right; huge 35.8 mm!; ex Forum (2015); extremely rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
 


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea Maritima, Samaria, Syria Palestina

|Roman| |Judea| |&| |Palestina|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Caesarea| |Maritima,| |Samaria,| |Syria| |Palestina||AE| |19|
Determining the emperor on this Holy Land issue was no easy task. Ultimately, the crude, schematic, style of the eagle provided the solution. A strikingly similar eagle was found for Severus Alexander under RPC Online VI T8861, represented by two specimens at the time of this writing (Jan 2024). The obv. legends of both coins were worn or off flan, but the portrait on the London specimen highly suggested the last Severan ruler while the second coin (Wildwinds example) sported a different head, resembling the one found on our coin. And yet, we know both pieces listed on RPC Online must be related to one another by virtue of the rev. die they share. Kadman 72, attributed to Caracalla, most likely was also struck from the same die and with a head again very similar to the Wildwinds coin. Finally, a third bronze (SNG ANS 6 793) with a head like ours (and possibly die-identical to the Wildwinds specimen) can be found listed as "specimen #2" under RPC Online VI, T30574---for Elagabalus! But from examining the reverse legend, one can confidently conclude that the title of Metropolis is included, which was first awarded Caesarea Maritima under Severus Alexander. Whew!
RP113710. Bronze AE 19, cf. RPC Online VI T8861 (2 spec.); BMC Palestine, p. 27, 118 ff.; Kadman 72 corr. (Caracalla); ANS SNG 6 793 corr. (same) (see notes), aF, rough stable surfaces, tight flan cutting off legends, weight 3.670 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, Caesarea Maritima (Keisaria, Israel) mint, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.; obverse laureate head right, legend off flan/obscure; reverse S P Q R (P reversed) within wreath supported by standing eagle facing with head left and wings spread, legend off flan/obscure; ex Frank Sternberg AG Zurich; ex Glendining & Co. auction 5 March 1970, lot 467 (part of); extremely rare variety; $160.00 (€150.40)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
Mars, the god of war, was, according to the common belief of the ancients, the son of Jupiter and of Juno; or as some of the later poets have pretended, the son of Juno, by whom solely he was generated, as the goddess Minerva was brought forth from Jupiter alone. Mars was regarded as a great leader in battle; as presiding over discord and contest, everywhere exciting slaughter and war. Although this divinity had numerous adorers in Greece and in many other countries, there was no place where his worship became more popular than in Rome.
RS111588. Silver denarius, RIC IV 73, RSC III 332, BMCRE VI 453, cf. SRCV II 7898 (TR P IIII), Hunter III 38 (TR P VI), aEF, choice obv., nice portrait, radiating flow lines, rev. die wear, edge a bit ragged, flan crack, weight 2.710 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, earlier part of 228 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse P M TR P VII COS II P P, Mars advancing right, nude but for crested helmet and cloak tied in belt at waist and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, trophy of captured arms over left shoulder in left hand; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 124 (8 Jan 2023), lot 986 (part of); $150.00 (€141.00)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
TR P abbreviates Tribunicia Potestate, the tribunician power, the power to veto legislation. In Roman coin legends the abbreviation TR P is often followed by a Roman numeral indicating the number of times the tribunitian power has been held. Every emperor claimed the tribunician power from the moment of accession. Up to Nerva the tribunician power was renewed on the anniversary of its original conferment. From Antoninus Pius on it seems to have been renewed on 10 December, the day on which elected tribunes entered office. It is still unclear (a) what system of renewal was in force from Trajan to Antoninus Pius and (b) whether at some point in the third century the tribunician day was moved from 10 December to 1 January.
SH112502. Silver denarius, RIC IV 109; RSC III 411a; BMCRE VI p. 195, 807; SRCV II 7913; Hunter III -, Choice EF, well centered and struck, flow lines, edge crack, mild die wear, weight 2.475 g, maximum diameter 19.6 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 231 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse P M TR P X COS III P P, Sol standing slightly left, head left, radiate, nude but for chlamys over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, globe in left hand; $150.00 (€141.00)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
Jupiter or Jove, Zeus to the Greeks, was the king of the gods and god of the sky and thunder, and of laws and social order. As the patron deity of ancient Rome, he was the chief god of the Capitoline Triad, with his sister and wife Juno. The father of Mars, he is, therefore, the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. Emperors frequently made vows to Jupiter for protection. The Roman's believed as the king of the gods, Jupiter favored emperors and kings, those in positions of authority similar to his own.
RS112451. Silver denarius, RIC IV 141, BMCRE VI 56, RSC III 70, SRCV II 7868, VF, full legends, nice youthful portrait, flow lines, light marks, weight 2.941 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 222 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI (to Jupiter the protector), Jupiter standing slightly left, head left, nude but for cloak hanging over right arm and left shoulder, fulmen (thunderbolt) in right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand; $120.00 (€112.80)
 


|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
'Courage' is depicted as a helmeted soldier in armor holding a spear, victory or shield. Virtus and Mars can be distinguished since Mars is usually shown nude and Virtus is always shown clothed. Some coins, including this one, show Virtus as a female figure.
RS114199. Silver denarius, RIC IV 220; BMCRE VI p. 184, 709; Cohen IV 579; RSC III 579 corr. (Virtus half-right); SRCV II -, VF, well centered with full legends, uneven toning, flow lines, edge cracks, weight 2.712 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 228 - 231 A.D.; obverse IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right; reverse VIRTVS AVG (the valor of the Emperor), Virtus standing half left, helmeted, in military garb with left breast exposed, Victory in extended right hand offering wreath, vertical spear leaning on crook of left arm, resting left hand on grounded shield at left side; $110.00 (€103.40)
 


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Irenopolis-Neronias, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Irenopolis-Neronias,| |Cilicia||diassarion|
Irenopolis or Eirenopolis or Eirenoupolis, known briefly as Neronias in honor of the Roman emperor Nero, was in northeastern Cilicia, not far from the Calycadnus river, on the site of modern Düzici, Osmaniye province, Turkey, at the mouth of the Darb al-'Ain pass. It was probably founded by Antiochus IV of Commagene. Coins of the city show that Asclepius and Hygeia were worshiped there, probably connected with the natural spring of the area. The city is mentioned by Hierocles, Nicephore, and Calliste. Christianity first came to the area in the 1st century; the mountain pass location made it an early candidate for missionaries. The city came under Muslim rule following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
RP114001. Bronze diassarion, RPC Online VI T6880.6 (this coin, 5 spec.); Karbach Eirenopolis 115; Lindgren I 1520; SNG BnF –; SNG Levante –, aVF, dark green-brown patina, deposits, weight 4.893 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, Irenopolis (Düzici, Turkey) mint, 224 - 225 A.D.; obverse AYT KAI CEY AΛEΞANΔPOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EIPHNOΠOΛ ΔOP (Irenopolis [year] 174), draped bust of Dionysus right, wearing ivy wreath, thyrsus over shoulder; ex CNG e-auction 543 (2 Aug 2023), lot 331; first of the type handled by FORVM, this coin is one of only two of the type Coin Archives records at auction in the last two decades; very rare; $100.00 (€94.00)
 




  






OBVERSE| LEGENDS|

DIVOALEXANDRO
MAVRALEXANDERCAES
MAVRELALEXANDERCAES
IMPALEXANDERPIVSAVG
IMPCAEMARAVSEVALX
IMPCAESMAVRSEVALEXANDAVG
IMPCAESMAVRSEVALEXANDERAVG
IMPCAESMAVRELALEXANDERPIVSFELAVG
IMPCAESMAVRELALEXANDERPIVSFELIXAVG
IMPCMAVRSEVALEXANDAVG
IMPCMAVRSEVALEXANDERAVG
IMPMARCOAVRSEVALAV
IMPSEVALEXANDAVG
IMPSEVALEXANDERAVG


REFERENCES|

Banti, A. & L. Simonetti. Corpus Nummorum Romanorum. (Florence, 1972-1979).
Calicó, E. The Roman Avrei, Vol. II: From Didius Julianus to Constantius I, 193 AD - 335 AD. (Barcelona, 2003).
Cayón, J. Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano, Vol. III: De Marco Aurelio a Caracalla (Del 161 d.C. al 217 d.C.). (Madrid, 1984).
Cohen, H. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, Vol. 4: Septimius Severus to Maximinus Thrax. (Paris, 1884).
Mattingly, H., E. Sydenham & C. Sutherland. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. IV: From Pertinax to Uranius Antoninus. (London, 1986).
Mattingly, H. & R. Carson. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. 5: Pertinax to Elagabalus. (London, 1950).
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE) http://numismatics.org/ocre/
Robinson, A. Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet, University of Glasgow, Vol. III. Pertinax to Aemilian. (Oxford, 1977).
Seaby, H. & Sear, D. Roman Silver Coins, Vol. III, Pertinax to Balbinus and Pupienus. (London, 1982).
Sear, D. Roman Coins and Their Values, Vol. II: The Accession of Nerva to the Overthrow of the Severan Dynasty AD 96 - AD 235. (London, 2002).
Vagi, D. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire. (Sidney, 1999).

Catalog current as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
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