Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus
Aureus circa 201, AV 7.10 g. IVLIA – AVGVSTA Draped bust of Julia Domna r. Rev. AETERNIT IMPERI Confronted busts of Caracalla laureate, draped and cuirassed facing r. and Geta, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed facing l. C 1. BMC 3. Collection du Vicomte de Sartiges pl. XXXV, 258 (this coin). Kent-Hirmer pl. 110, 383 (this coin). Giacosa, Ritratti di Auguste, p.118, XXXIX (this coin). Mazzini 1 and pl. 24 (this coin). RIC S. Severus 540. Calicó 2653.
Very rare and among the finest specimens known. An outstanding specimen with
three delightful portraits. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex Ars Classica 18, 1938, de Sartiges, 332; NFA XXII, 1989, 83; NAC-Spink Taisei 1994, Steinberg, 578; M&M 92,2002, Friend of Romans, 128; NAC 31, 2005, 71 and Rauch 102, 2016, 121 sales. From the Mazzini collection and from the Karnak hoard.

Graded Ch AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556714-023

An impressive series of dynastic coins was issued for the Severans throughout 201 and into the early part of 202, presumably marking the fifth anniversary of the dynasty that Septimius Severus had formed by early 196. After so many years of civil war, Severus must have thought it appropriate to publicise his dynasty, and to advertise the stability that it represented to the Roman people. The variety of types is considerable, with the portraits of family members being shown in many combinations. This aureus was struck in the name of Julia Domna, and the reverse portrays her two sons, Caracalla and Geta. It is tailor-made as a dynastic type since the inscription AETERNIT IMPERI ('the eternity of the empire') equates the continuity of the empire with the continuity of the dynasty. The positioning of the boys' portraits is exactly as would be expected: the elder, Caracalla, is in the honorary position on the left wearing a laurel wreath to indicate his senior status as Augustus, and the younger, Geta, is shown bareheaded on the right to denote his lesser status as Caesar.