Roman Empire: Severus Alexander (222-235 AD), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 231-235 AD

[Overlord]

Roman Empire: Severus Alexander (222-235 AD), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 231-235 AD, RIC 254, RSC 546 (2.96 g, 20 mm)

On March 11, 222 AD, Emperor Elagabalus was murdered. His cousin Severus Alexander was proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard and accepted by the Senate.

Alexander's reign was marked by troubles and his mother held great influence over him. When campaigning against Germanic tribes of Germania, Alexander apparently alienated his legions by trying diplomacy and bribery, and they assassinated him along with his mother. They chose Gaius Lulius Verus Maximinus, a Thracian soldier who had worked his way up through the ranks, as the new emperor.

Alexander's death is considered as the end of the Principate system established by Augustus and signalled the beginning of the chaotic period known as "The Crisis of the Third Century", which weakened the empire considerably.

Obverse: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG. Laureate and draped bust right
Reverse: SPES PVBLICA. Spes walking left, holding flower and raising skirt

[Figleaf]

Superb detail. What a beauty!

I like the way you make the emperor look at Spes, who is just lifting her see-through skirt, displaying her dainty ankles. Knowing the lewdness of the reign of his predecessor and cousin Elegabalus, my wicked brain constructs the beginning of a grin on the young emperor's face.

Peter

[Finn235]

Beautiful coin! The mint workers in Rome under Alexander and Maximinus really knew how to make a coin!