SEVERVS ALEXANDER

Caesar: 221-222 A.D.
Augustus: 222-235 A.D.
MARCVS AVRELIVS SEVERVS ALEXANDER was born  in 208 A.D. in Arqa, Phoenicia (near the modern village of Miniara in northern Lebanon), to the influential Julia Mamaea and Gessius Marcianus as MARCVS IVLIVS GESSIVS BASSIANVS ALEXIANVS.
When it became clear that his cousin Elagabalus was making himself impossible with both the army and the populace, his grandmother Julia Maesa persuaded the emperor to appoint Alexianus as Ceasar, having him adopt the name Alexander. When Elagabalus tried to undo this appointment almost a year later, the troops wouldn't stand for it and the emperor was assassinated by the praetorian guard on March 6, 222, leaving Severus Alexander and his mother Julia Mamaea in control of the purple.
Alexander married Sallustia Orbiana in 225, but divorced and exiled her in 227, after her father was accused of plotting to assasinate the emperor.
The new emperor was popular at first, and enjoyed a fairly peaceful reign until several rebellions broke out around 231 A.D. Most notable are Alexander's campaigns against the Parthians (231-232 A.D.) and the Germans (232-235 A.D.)
During this final campaign the emperor fell into disrepute with the armies when he offered the Germans a bribe in exchange for a truce. Legio XII Primigenia subsequently hailed the Thracian giant Maximinus as their new emperor, slaying Severus Alexander and his mother Julia Mamaea near Mainz (Mongontiacum) in March, 235 A.D. Alexander's death marks the end of the Severan dynasty and the start of the period known as the 'crisis and decline' of the empire (235-268 A.D.)
(Contributed by Jan de Veen)

The Denarii
Silver Denarius (18.42mm, 1.89gr), Struck 223 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: P M TR P II COS P P Mars, standing front, head left, holding olive branch and reversed spear.

RIC 23, RSC 231, Sear 7895

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (19.10mm, 2.46gr), Struck 227 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev: P M TR P VI COS II P P Alexander, togate, standing left, sacrificing over tripod and holding scroll.

RIC 70, RSC 325, Sear 7899 var.

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (19mm, 3.29gr), Struck 223 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev: PAX AETERNA AVG Pax standing left holding olive-branch and scepter.

RIC 165, RSC 183, Sear 7886

Mark Lehman Collection

Silver Denarius (17.60mm, 2.34gr), Struck 226 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: PAX AVG Pax, running left, holding olive branch and scepter.

RIC 168, RSC 187, Sear 7887

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (19.68mm, 3.34gr), Struck 225 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: VICTORIA AVG Victory, running left, holding wreath and palm.

RIC 180, RSC 564, Sear 7931

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (16mm, 2.1gr), Struck 230 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate head right

Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI Victoria standing right, foot on helmet, holding a shield inscribed VOT X on left knee.

RIC 219, RSC 566a, Sear 7932

Bob Rinaldi Collection

Silver Denarius (19.9mm, 2.8gr), Struck 231 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: IOVIS PROPVGNATOR Jupiter standing, hurling thunderbolt.

RIC 240, RSC 89

Kevin Ingleston Collection

Silver Denarius (18.93mm, 2.59gr), Struck 231 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Alexander's laureate head right

Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG Annona, standing head-left, holding grain ears and anchor, a modius at her feet.

RIC 252, RSC 508a, Sear 7923

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (19.82mm, 2.52gr), Struck 232 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Alexander's laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev: SPES PVBLICA Spes, walking left, holding flower and lifting skirt.

RIC 254, RSC 546, Sear 7927

Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius (18.83mm, 3.15gr), Struck 222 A.D. in Antioch

Obv: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: SALVS PVBLICA Salus, seated left, elbow resting on throne,
using patera to feed snake rising from altar. A star in left field.

RIC 298, RSC 535, Sear 7926

Jan de Veen Collection


 The Sestertii
Orichalcum Sestertius (32mm, 25.30gr), Struck 227 A.D. in Rome

Obv: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG Alexander's laureate and draped bust right

Rev: P M TR P VI COS II P P, S C Annona standing left holding corn-ears and cornucopiae, modius at feet.

RIC 463, Cohen 316, Sear 7992

Mark Lehman Collection