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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Severan Period| ▸ |Severus Alexander||View Options:   | | | 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. |
On almost all specimens of this type, the wreath on the reverse is closed with a star. Even the star variety of the type is rare. We know of only two other specimens of this extremely rare variant with the wreath closed with a garland (or jewel?).RY114991. Bronze as, McAlee 852b (ex. rare); RPC Online VI T8096.3 (Milan 3564); Waage 633 var. (wreath closed with star); BMC Galatia p. 207, 468 var. (same), gVF, nice portrait, bare metal, bumps, scratches, weight 5.212 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 13 Mar 222 - Mar 235 A.D.; obverse AYT KAI MAP AY CE AΛEΞANΔPOC CE, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse S C, Δ E above, eagle standing left with head right and wings open below, all within laurel wreath fastened at the top with a garland (or jewel?); first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; extremely rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
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)
'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)
Thyateira, Lydia, c. 218 - 235 A.D.
Thyateira (also Thyatira) is the ancient name of the modern Turkish city of Akhisar ("white castle"). In Revelation, Thyatira is the church that had a false prophetess (Revelation 2:20).
It is uncertain if Athena is holding a spear over her left shoulder on the obverse of our coin. That such a spear-less variety exists is suggested by both BMC Lydia 32 and 31 (whose reverse depicts Athena holding a patera in place of Nike), although neither coin has been seen by this cataloger. Also, contrary to the claim of RPC Online VI (as of 1 Feb. 2024), Dane Kurth did indeed record our type (assuming it has an obverse spear) under GRPC Lydia 82. Spear or no spear, hopefully the reader has understood the point of this commentary.GB113946. Bronze AE 19, cf. RPC Online VI T30620 (obv. spear); GRPC Lydia 82 (same); SNG Hunt 1362-1363 (same; leg. arr.); BMC Lydia p. 297, 32 (no obv. spear?; leg. arr.), F, slightly rough, bare metal surfaces, weight 3.557 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Thyatira (Akhisar, Turkey) mint, time of Elagablus-Sev. Alexander, 218 - 235 A.D.; obverse draped bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet and aegis partially fringed with snakes, spear(?) over left shoulder; reverse ΘYAT-E-IPHNΩN, Athena standing facing, helmeted head left, Nike in right hand, grounded shield and upright spear supported with her left hand; $70.00 (€65.80)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Philomelium, Phrygia
Philomelium, Ak-Shehr today, was probably a Pergamenian outpost on the great Graeco-Roman highway from Ephesus to the east. Cicero, on his way to Cilicia, dated some of his extant correspondence there. The place played a considerable part in the frontier wars between the Byzantine emperors and the Sultanate of Rum. It became an important Seljuk town, and late in the 14th century passed into Ottoman hands.MA113893. Bronze AE 17, RPC Online VI T5774; SNG Cop 653; BMC Phrygia p. 357, 21; McClean 8844, F, well centered, porous, weight 2.006 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 180o, Philomelion (Ak-Shehr, Konya, Turkey) mint, obverse AV K CEVH AΛEΞANΔPO, laureate head right; reverse FIΛOMHΛEΩN, eagle standing facing, wings spread, head right; $13.00 (€12.22)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Irenopolis-Neronias, Cilicia
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)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia
"Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey - 38°42'N, 35°28'E) was created by the Cappadocian Kings to be their capital and was originally known as Mazaca. Caesarea fell to the Romans as a result of Pompey the Great's eastern campaigns, although client kings continued to rule until 17 AD when Tiberius annexed the area as the province of Cappadocia, with Caesarea as its capital. Through subsequent provincial reorganizations Caesarea finally became the capital of Cappadocia Prima in the late fourth century. It served as a mint city from Tiberius's reign until that of Septimius Severus, although not continuously." - from Moneta Historical Research by Tom SchroerRP114010. Bronze AE 22, Ganschow 823h; RPC Online VI 6823/32; Sydenham Caesarea 575; SNG Cop VII 296 var. (obv. leg.); SNGvA 6518 var. (same), F, weight 8.681 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 226 - 227 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOYH - AΛEΞANΔ, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right, seen from behind; reverse inscription in five lines: MH/TPOΠO/ΛEWC K/AICAPI/AC ET ς (Metropolis Caesarea, year 6); $50.00 (€47.00)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea Maritima, Samaria, Syria Palestina
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, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia
Mount Erciyes (Argaios to the Greeks, Argaeus to the Romans) is a massive stratovolcano 25 km to the south of Kayseri (ancient Caesarea) in Turkey. The highest mountain in central Anatolia, with its summit reaching 3,916 meters (12,848 ft). It may have erupted as recently as 253 B.C. Strabo wrote that the summit was never free from snow and that those few who ascended it reported seeing both the Black Sea to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south in days with a clear sky.RP112993. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online VI T6850, Henseler 1276, Sydenham Caesarea 593, BMC Cappadocia 336, Lindgren I 1725, SNGvA 6522, SNG Cop VII -, aVF, nice portrait, uneven strike with some legend unstruck, weight 13.851 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 228 - 229 A.D.; obverse AVK CEOV AΛEZANΔ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTPOΠ KAICAPIA, agalma of Mount Argaeus, ET H (year 8) in exergue; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 24 (3 Dec 2022), lot 4995 (part of); $90.00 (€84.60)
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); $130.00 (€122.20)
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