Thread: Empress Severina

Just another empress I needed for my collection. I liked it cause it was different then the usual CONCORDIAE MILITVM I see everywhere.

Its also got alot of silvering in the empty fields under under the crust. I am just hesitant to clean it nor do I know how with silvered AEs.



Severina (274 - 275 A.D.)
AE Antoninianus
O: SEVERINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right on a crescent.
R: PROVIDEN DEOR, Fides standing right holding two standards, facing Sol standing left holding globe in left and raising right, UXXT in ex.
Ticinum mint
22mm
3.5g
RIC 9

What a great coin. Had to look up that empress:

Antoninianus of SeverinaUlpia Severina (fl. 3rd century) was a Roman Empress, the wife of the emperor Aurelian. There is evidence that she reigned in her own right for some period after Aurelian's death in 275, which would make her the only woman to have ruled over the entire Roman Empire by her own power. Very little is known about her, as there are no literary sources mentioning her existence. Almost everything known about her, including her name, is gathered from coins and inscriptions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulpia_Severina

The bust on the crescent and the image of Sol on the reverse places the coin AD mid-third century up to Christian Rome, but I think most of us would be hard pressed to say more about the Empress.

Thanks, again, for a coin that stimulates learning.

guy

And a quick question: Who was the last empress to be depicted with her bust on a crescent? (I have to look that one up still.)

guy

Originally Posted by Bart9349

And a quick question: Who was the last empress to be depicted with her bust on a crescent? (I have to look that one up still.)

guy

Im 99% sure it was Magnia Urbica (283 - 285 A.D.), wife of emperor Carinus. Her coins are fairly rare.

Another cool addition. I like the way the silvering looks on this one, and I know what you mean. My Constans FH might look a little better with some more cleaning but I'm afraid to do anything. I think yours looks good as is though. Can't say I know much about Severina either.

Usually EDTA or lemon juice do not hurt silvering but they need to be watched closely not to go too far on the exposed copper. I don't see the coin as bad enough to be worth risking any treatment.

Im probably going to leave it as is. The green doesnt seem to be BD.

Originally Posted by Mat

Im 99% sure it was Magnia Urbica (283 - 285 A.D.), wife of emperor Carinus. Her coins are fairly rare.

Makes sense:



RIC 337 Sear'88 #3489 Magnia Urbica AE Antoninianus. Lugdunum mint. MAGNIA VRBICA AVG, diademed & draped bust right, resting on crescent / VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing left, holding apple & scepter, shield at feet, D to left. RIC 337, Cohen 11. (Image from Wildwinds.com)

I guess the only other possibility would be the wife of Diocletian's immediate predecessor, Numerian. I also have to check the wives of the Tetrarchy.

Thanks, again,

guy

Numerian never had a coin issued with his wife I believe. And the Tetrarchy didnt have many of their wives either. There is Theodora who's coins look like 4th century coinage, sloppy & hard to make out, expensive in nice grades. And then there was Galeria Valeria, the daughter of Emperor Diocletian and the second wife of Emperor Galerius but her coins feature no crescent.

I own neither of these empresses mainly cause they havent been at a price point I am comfortable with & I dont have a huge interest in them so I am slow to acquire ones of them.

At least with Severina, she ruled the empire herself for a short period, thats something interesting.

Galeria has this:

After her husband's death, she refused a proposal of marriage by Maximinus Daia, and infuriated he ordered her and her mother Prisca exiled to Syria. Diocletian begged Maximinus to allow his beloved daughter and wife to live with him, but Maximinus refused and imprisoned them in Syria. They escaped, and wandered for 15 months in search of refuge before being recognized in the city of Saloniki. A mob seized the pair, dragged them to the town square, beheaded them and dumped their bodies in the sea.

Interesting but not what she goes for $ wise for a respectable looking coin.

That's a really nice empress Mat. You must be proud of that one. Its interesting how the whole "long neck" look they used on the empresses as well. Very nice style on her face and hairdo especially.

Originally Posted by Bart9349

And a quick question: Who was the last empress to be depicted with her bust on a crescent? (I have to look that one up still.)

guy

I believe it was Galeria Valeria

http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=128840#

Originally Posted by Ardatirion

I believe it was Galeria Valeria

http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=128840#

So was that before the reform I guess? I have never seen a GV with crescent.