Roman, Sestertius, Severus Alexander, 222 - 235 A.D

RULER: Severus Alexander
DATE: 222 - 235 A.D
DENOMINATION: Sestertius
MATERIAL: Bronze
SIZE & WEIGHT: 29,65 mm, 13,35 gr
OBVERSE: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate draped and armoured bust right
REVERSE: MARS VLTOR, Mars facing right, with spear and shield, S-C in fields
REFERENCES: RIC 635, Cohen 169

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Severus Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty, ruling from 222 to 235 AD. He ascended to the throne as a teenager after the assassination of his cousin, Elagabalus, and was heavily influenced by his mother, Julia Mamaea, who played a crucial role in governance. His reign was marked by attempts at reform, efforts to curb corruption, and a return to more traditional Roman values after the excesses of his predecessor. He sought to strengthen the Senate’s role and promoted economic stability, but his reliance on advisors and his perceived weakness in military matters led to growing discontent among the legions.

One of the major challenges of Severus Alexander’s rule was the rising threat of external enemies, particularly the Sassanian Empire in the East and Germanic tribes along the northern frontier. Although he led campaigns against these threats, his military policies, including his preference for diplomacy and bribery over outright warfare, alienated his soldiers. In 235 AD, during a campaign against the Germanic tribes, his own troops mutinied and assassinated him, replacing him with the more aggressive general Maximinus Thrax. His death marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, a period of instability that nearly led to the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Despite his troubled reign, Severus Alexander left behind a legacy of modest reforms and an emphasis on cultural and intellectual pursuits. His coinage, including the denarius, reflects his efforts to present himself as a traditional and pious ruler, often depicting Roman gods, military themes, and personifications of virtues such as Pax (Peace) and Virtus (Courage).