Severus Alexander augustus, 222 – 235

Bimetallic medallion 223, Æ 35 mm, 46.83 g. IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. PONTIF MAX TR P II COS P P Aerial view of the Flavian Amphitheatre (the Colosseum): in front, four stories with arches, some of them containing figures; at back, two tiers of spectators; in l. field, Emperor standing facing, sacrificing out of patera in r. hand over altar; behind him, Meta Sudans, a giant statue of Sol and another figure; in r. field, shrine in two stories with two pediments and a male statue. In exergue, S C. For reverse but without SC, cf. Gnecchi III, p. 42 = Toynbee pl. 29, 7. For sestertius, cf. C 468. BMC 156 and pl. 6 = RIC 410 (these dies).
Apparently unique and unrecorded as a medallion. Struck from the dies of an exceedingly
rare sestertius known in only two specimens. A medallion of tremendous fascination
issued to celebrate the restoration of the Colosseum. A pleasant portrait and an
incredibly detailed reverse composition. Lovely dark brown
tone and about extremely fine / extremely fine

The most famous monument in Italy – if not of all Europe – is the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the Colosseum in Rome. Named after the emperor Vespasian (A.D. 69-79), who began its construction in 71, it was Rome’s first permanent structure of the type, as all such events in Rome had previously been held in wooden structures. Vespasian was still alive when the first three levels of his colosseum were completed and dedicated in 75. However, the final product – including the fourth and fifth levels, which are clearly represented on this sestertius – was not finished for another five years, at which point it was formally dedicated by his eldest son Titus in June, 80. Various improvements were made to the Colosseum by later emperors, such as Trajan and Antoninus Pius, but little else is recorded until it was struck by lightning in 217. A conflagration resulted, and Dio reports that the damage was severe. Elagabalus began repairs in 218, and by 223 limited use of the amphitheatre was possible; it was at this point that the new emperor Severus Alexander celebrated its reopening. In 223, during Severus Alexander’s reign, the Senate mint produced gold, silver and bronze coins, all of the same type, probably to celebrate the restoration of the amphitheatre. Restoration was completed by 244, at the end of the reign of Gordian III, after which the amphitheatre was used well into the Christian era. We have reports of it being damaged by earthquakes in 442 and 470, and of further restorations in 508 and 523 by the Germanic occupants who had overthrown the Romans. However, no effort was made to restore it after an earthquake in 847. From a numismatic perspective, the colosseum is among the hardest to collect of Roman monuments, for it only occurs on coinage three times – and in each instance the coins are famous rarities. It first appears on sestertii of Titus, the emperor under whom it was completed, and later on coins of Severus Alexander and medallions of Gordian III. The latter pieces are of unusual interest as the artist, in showing the monument from above, depicts a battle between wild beasts occurring within.