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A silver denarius of Severus Alexander with a reverse showing Nobilitas. Coin Type: Silver denarius of Severus Alexander, 222-235 CE.
Mint and Date: Antioch mint, undated (222-235 CE).
Size and Weight: 18mm, 2.21g
Obverse: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: NOBILITAS
Nobilitas standing right, holding a tall sceptre in right hand behind, and a statuette of Athena in left hand in front.
Ref: RCV (2002) 7885; RIC IV 290.
Provenance: numismatiklanz (eBay), January 2010
BW Ref: 046 047 153
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note: The type of Nobilitas found on coins of Commodus, Geta, and Severus Alexander is often said to carry the Palladium. It does seem to be a statuette of Athena, and can sometimes be seen to be appropriately helmeted, but it is in the wrong stance for the Palladium. (Nobilitas on coins of Philip I and Tetricus II carries a globe instead.) Also, she is sometimes said to carry a spear, but it is clearly a sceptre in these examples.

The content of this page was last updated on 29 January 2010