Severus Alexander 222 - 235 A.D.
| Coin Description | Severus Alexander, silver Denarius 18mm (width) 20mm (length), Grade ??, The coin is struck slightly off-centre and the flan is quite elongated. There's also a crack, quite visible on the reverse. This coin was bought on E-bay. VM 7 |
| Obverse | The portrait is of Severus Alexander a Laureate and draped bust facing right. The legend reads IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG meaning: IMP (Imperator = the Emperor / supreme military commander) C (Caesar) M AVR SEV ALEXAND (when he became Caesar his name was changed to Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander) AVG Augustus which defines him as the emperor. |
| Reverse |
The reverse shows Concordia seated left holding a cornucopia in her left and a patera in her right hand. The legend reads CONCORDIA (she was the Roman personification of harmony and agreement). |
| Mint | Antioch minted between 222 and 223 AD (I found this info trough the excellent site on Severus Alexander coins here . It states that the keys to look for are first the star on the reverse (which this coin doesn't have) , the different "A's" (they look like upside down V's) , and the thin neck (This coin has both of these thus leading me to the conclusion that its the Antioch mint). |
| The Entire Story | The entire story of this coin would read: Our supreme commander and emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander who brings back harmony and unity to the empire. This coin was minted soon after the death of Elagabalus to show that harmony and normality were restored after Elagabalus' destructive and perverse reign. |
