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Severus Alexander Was a Beloved Cousin of Elagabalus Who Was Named Caesar While Elagabalus Was Still Emperor

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Severus Alexander Was a Beloved Cousin of Elagabalus Who Was Named Caesar While Elagabalus Was Still Emperor Copyright © 2013 by Rasiel Suarez. All Rights Reserved. Dirty Old Books™ PO Box 14803 Tumwater, WA 98511-4803 USA www.dirtyoldbooks.com No part of this book may be reproduced mechanically or otherwise without written permission from the Author. Brief excerpts may be published without prior authorization for the purposes of review and evaluation. Requests to the Publisher should be directed in writing using the contact information provided above. First Published December, 2013 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Suarez, Rasiel., 1969— The Complete Coinage of Florian / Rasiel Suarez—1st ed. 1. Numismatics. 2. Coins: Ancient. 3. Coins: Roman Imperial Severus Alexander was a beloved cousin of Elagabalus who was named Caesar while Elagabalus was still emperor. As his popularity grew, SeverusSeverus AlexanderAlexander Elagabalus recognized in him the growing menace of a future rival and sought to oust him. But this only served to infuriate the army which by Caesar 221 — 222 Caesar 221 — 222 now had taken the young Augustus 222 — 235 Augustus 222 — 235 Caesar under its wings. Rather than let Elagabalus depose Alexander by civil or violent means they instead mutinied and murdered the emperor clearing the way for Alexander's accession. Alexander went on to rule for thirteen years of relative peace. Not since the time of Marcus Aurelius did Romans enjoy a monarch whose ambitions were for their welfare and the pursuit of the arts. His one singular weakness, which eventually proved to be fatal, was his absolute reverence for his untactful mother. Like no other woman until then, Julia Mamaea styled herself an empress in every sense of the word and the unapologetic exercise of her rule along with her incessant meddling in the affairs of state was a constant embarrassment and irritation to the prevailing sensibilities of the army, the Senate and the rest of the Roman citizenry. Hushed whispers grew over time to outspoken protestations to, eventually, open mutiny. The mild- mannered Alexander, whether we blame his overbearing mother or his own milquetoast personality, was either unable or unwilling to rectify the situation by removing her from the political limelight and, thus, were both corralled and massacred along with their staff. Busts: Severus Alexander is another prominent emperor of the 1) Bare head right third century and his coins are downright plentiful; 2) Bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right particularly the denarius and the sestertius with other 3) Bare headed, draped bust right 4) Laureate head/bust right denominations being much less common. 5) Laureate, cuirassed bust right 6) Laureate, cuirassed torso left, holding Victory and sword hilt 7) Laureate, cuirassed torso right, holding spear over shoulder Production of the antoninianus is mysteriously suspended 8) Laureate, draped torso right, holding scepter with eagle atop during his entire reign and will not be re-introduced until 9) Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left the reign of Gordian III who, in turn, will see to it 10) Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right 11) Laureate, draped bust left intentionally or otherwise that the denarius is phased out for 12) Laureate, draped bust right good. 13) Radiate head right 14) Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right 15) Radiate, draped bust right The average denarius will cost around $50. Even common a) Severus Alexander laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right facing Julia Mamaea, but high-grade specimens need rarely cost over $100. diademed draped bust left b) Severus Alexander laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right facing Orbiana, diademed draped bust left Obverse Legends: 1) DIVO ALEXANDRO 14) IMP CAES M AVREL SEV ALEXANDER PIVS FELIX AVG 2) IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG 15) IMP MAR COS AVR SEV AL AV 3) IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 16) IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG 4) IMP C M AV SEV ALEXAND AVG 17) IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG IVLIA MAMAEA 5) IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAN AVG 18) IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 6) IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND 19) IMP SEV ALEXAND SALL BARBIA ORBIANA 7) IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG 20) IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG 8) IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG 21) IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 9) IMP C M SEV ALEXAND AVG 22) IMP SEVERVS ALEXANDER AVG IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 10) IMP CAE MAR AV SEV ALX 23) IP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG 11) IMP CAES ALEXANDER AVG IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 24) M AVR ALEXANDER AVG 12) IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG 25) M AVR ALEXANDER CAES 13) IMP CAES M AVREL SEV ALEXANDER AVG 26) M AVREL ALEXANDER CAES Reverse Legends: 1) ABVNDANTIA AVG 34) IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA 68) PIETAS AVG 102) PONTIFEX COS 2) ADLOCVTIO AVGVSTI 35) IVSTITIA AVGVSTI 69) PIETAS MILITVM 103) PONTIFEX MAX TR P IIII 3) AEQVITAS AVG 36) LIBEALITAS AVG 70) PM TR P COS 104) POTESTAS PERPETV 4) AEQVITAS AVGVSTI 37) LIBERALITAS AVG 71) PM TR P COS II PP 105) PRINC IVVENTVTIS 5) AEQVITAS PVBLICA 38) LIBERALITAS AVG II 72) PM TR P COS PP 106) PROFECTIO AVG 6) AETERNITATIBVS 39) LIBERALITAS AVG III 73) PM TR P II COS PP 107) PROFECTIO AVGVSTI 7) ANNONA AVG 40) LIBERALITAS AVG IIII 74) PM TR P II COS II PP 108) PROVAD DEORVM 8) ANNONA AVGVSTI 41) LIBERALITAS AVG V 75) PM TR P III COS PP 109) PROVID DEORVM 9) CONCORD AVGVSTORVM 42) LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI 76) PM TR P IIII COS PP 110) PROVIDENTIA AVG 10) CONCORDIA 43) LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI II 77) PM TR P V COS II PP 111) PROVIDENTIA DEORVM 11) CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM 44) LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI III 78) PM TR P V COS PP II 112) PVDICITIA 12) CONCORDIAE AVGVSTORVM 45) LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI IIII 79) PM TR P VI COS II PP 113) RESTITVT MON 13) CONSECRATIO 46) LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI V 80) PM TR P VII COS II PP 114) RESTITVTOR MON 14) DIANA LVCIFERA 47) LIBERITAS AVG 81) PM TR P VII COS III PP 115) ROMAE AETERNAE 15) FECVND AVGVSTAE 48) LIBERTAS AVG 82) PM TR P VIII COS III PP 116) SACERDOS VRBIS 16) FELICITAS AVG 49) LIBERTAS AVGVSTI 83) PM TR P VIIII 117) SALVS AVGVSTI 17) FELICITAS PERPETVA AVG 50) LIBETAS AVG 84) PM TR P VIIII COS III PP 118) SALVS PSVLAS 18) FELICITAS TEMPORVM 51) MAISI AVG 85) PM TR P VIIII OS II PP 119) SALVS PVBLICA 19) FELICITATI POPVLI ROMANI 52) MARS PROPVG 86) PM TR P X COS III PP 120) SALVTI AVGVSTI 20) FIDES EXERCIT 53) MARS VICTOR 87) PM TR P XI COS III PP 121) SECVLI FELICITAS 21) FIDES EXERCITVS 54) MARS VLTOR 88) PM TR P XII COS III PP 122) SECVRITAS PERPETVA 22) FIDES MILITVM 55) MARTI PACIFER 89) PM TR P XIII COS III PP 123) SPES PVBLICA 23) FORTVNAE FELICI 56) MARTI PACIFERO 90) PM TR P XIIII COS III PP 124) TEMPORVM FELICITAS 24) FORTVNAE REDVCI 57) MARTI VICTORI 91) PONT M II COS PP 125) VENVS CAELISTIS 25) INDVLGENTIA AVG 58) MON RESTITVTA 92) PONTIF MAX TR P II COS II PP 126) VENVS GENETRIX 26) IOVI CONSERVATORI 59) MONETA AVG 93) PONTIF MAX TR P II COS PP 127) VENVS VICTRIX 27) IOVI PROPVGNATORI 60) MONETA AVGVSTI 94) PONTIF MAX TR P II COS III PP 128) VICTORIA AVG 28) IOVIS PROPVGNATOR 61) NOBILITAS 95) PONTIF MAX TR P II COS PP 129) VICTORIA AVGVSTI 29) IOVI STATORI 62) PAX AETERNA AVG 96) PONTIF MAX TR P III COS PP 130) VICTORIAE 30) IOVI VLTORI 63) PAX AETERNAE AVG 97) PONTIF MAX TR P IIII COS PP 131) VIRTVS AVG 31) IOVI VLTORI PM TR P III 64) PAX AVG 98) PONTIF MAX TR P V COS II PP 132) VIRTVS AVGVSTI 32) IVCVNDITATI AVG 65) PAX AVGVSTI 99) PONTIF MAX TR P VII COS II PP 133) VIRVS AVG 33) IVLIA MAMAEA AVG 66) PERPETVITAS IMP AVG 100) PONTIF MAX TR P X COS III PP 134) No legend 67) PERPETVITATI AVG 101) PONTIF MAX TR P XIIII COS III PP Types: 1) Abundantia standing left, pouring out cornucopia 2) Abundantia standing right, pouring out cornucopia 3) Aequitas standing left, holding scale and cornucopia 4) Alexandrine baths edifice façade on two levels and colonnade with quadriga atop 5) Altar 6) Annona standing left, holding grain over modius and anchor 7) Annona standing left, holding grain over modius and cornucopia 8) Annona standing left, stepping on galley prow, holding grain and cornucopia 9) Annona standing right, stepping on galley prow, holding rudder on globe and modius 10) Circus Maximus; view from entrance with six-columned temple of Jupiter above 11) Coliseum; bird’s eye view with arena visible (two gladiators within), three citizens to side and partial view of another building 12) Concordia seated left, holding patera and cornucopia 13) Concordia seated left, holding patera and two cornucopiae 14) Diana advancing left, holding torch. 15) Diana standing left, holding torch 16) Eagle standing left 17) Eagle standing right 18) Felicitas seated left, holding Palladium and scepter 19) Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia 20) Felicitas standing left, holding patera over modius and caduceus 21) Felicitas standing left, sacrificing over altar and holding caduceus 22) Fides seated left, holding standard and cornucopia 23) Fides seated left, holding standard in each hand 24) Fides seated left, holding standard; another standard to right 25) Fides standing facing, holding standard in each hand 26) Fides standing left, holding vexillum and cradling standard 27) Fortuna seated left, holding cornucopia 28) Fortuna seated left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopia 29) Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia 30) Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopia 31) Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe and scepter 32) Jucunditas seated right, holding globe and scepter 33) Julia Mamaea diademed, draped bust right 34) Julia Mamaea draped bust right 35) Julia Mamaea seated left, receiving globe from attendant to left and Felicitas standing to left, holding caduceus; in background center, standing attendant 36) Jupiter advancing left, holding thunderbolt and eagle 37) Jupiter advancing left, holding thunderbolt 38) Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and scepter 39) Jupiter standing facing, holding scepter and thunderbolt 40) Jupiter standing facing, holding thunderbolt and scepter 41) Jupiter standing facing, holding thunderbolt and scepter; Severus Alexander to lower left 42) Jupiter standing left, holding branch and spear 43) Jupiter standing right, aiming thunderbolt 44) Jupiter standing right, aiming thunderbolt and holding eagle 45) Justitia seated left, holding patera and scepter.
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