Severus Alexander tried to contrast himself from Elagabalus´ government and promoted his middle-of-the-road rule not only by honoring the Senate, but also by showing traditional Roman deities on his coinage. Nevertheless here is my Sestertius of his (rated "scarce" by RIC) showing the Sun God on the reverse, who made an increasing appearance in Alexanders later years. It is doubtful, however, that this is supposed to show the Sun God of Emesa, but rather the Sol honored by his great uncle-in-law, Septimius Severus. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG - Laureate head of Severus Alexander right, slightly draped on left shoulder / P M TR P VIIII COS III P P / S C - Sol standing facing, head left, raising right hand and holding whip in left, wearing radiate crown Sestertius, Rome 230 RIC 500, BMC 625, Cohen 390, Sear -
Cool! Nice portrait on that one, too. Here's a Severus Alexander sestertius from my collection: Severus Alexander, AD 222-235 Roman Æ sestertius; 21.72 gm, 28.4 mm Rome, AD 229 Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder Rev: P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter Refs: RIC 492; BMCRE 570; Cohen 372; RCV 7996 Notes: Die break affects S on reverse.
Cool!!! I seem to have added four 'bronzes' of Severus Alexander (none of Sol)---- three Provincials and one Imperial:
NICE Sestertius @Julius Germanicus ! I have AR of SevAlex, but I only have this one "Bronze" RI FOUREE Denarius Severus Alexander with Annona Avg reverse
Well, I gotta like that one, don't I!! Here's a Sol reverse from my fledgling collection of Sev Alex middle bronzes (AE as): And one of my favourite Sev Alex sestertii (for some reason I really like exactly this kind of patina, which should be at least halfway up your alley, JG):
Here is my Severus Alexander Sol sestertius: Severus Alexander Sestertius 230 AD, IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, SOL standing left holding globe, PM TRP VIII COS III PP, RIC503, BMC888, C393
Nice! Severus Alexander AE Sestertius. 235 AD. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XIIII COS III PP S C, Sol walking left, holding whip and raising right hand, cloak billowing out behind. RIC IV 541; BMCRE 964; Cohen 457 22.3 g
SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE Sestertius OBVERSE: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped bust right, seen from the back ALEXANDROC AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: PONTIF MAX TR P II COS P P S-C, Pax seated left, holding branch and sceptre Struck at Rome, 223 AD 17g, 26mm RIC 402
Thank you all for showing your great Alexanders (all better than my humble piece)! I just read (in Paul N. Pearson´s biography on Maximinus Thrax) that Alexander Severus was, as an extra job next to being the Roman Emperor, to my surprise indeed the high priest of the God El Gabal and as such visited Emesa in 232, where he would make sacrifices before he unsuccessfully invaded Persia.
Nice entry I can show you one that fits the bill but not in my collection any more ..... Severus Alexander, Sestertius IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust right PM TR P XIII COS III PP, Sol walking left, SC in field 16.86 gr ....and the one I'll keep until I die (you will have to pull it off of my cold grasped hands) Severus Alexander, Sestertius Rome mint, AD 231 IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate bust of Severus Alexander righ, with light drapery on left shoulder IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, with a small figure of the emperor at his feet, SC in field 14.75 gr Ref : RCV #7966, Cohen # 74 Q
I have this one of Severus Alexander: Victory, winged, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand… lettering: P M TR P X COS III P P S C….
nice looking sestertius, @GinoLR ! I've got at least a couple Sev. Alex. Sestertii... but none with Sol (or any denomination of Sev. Alex. with Sol) I kind of like this one. But I'm guess he was less physically impressive in person! I imagine him actually looking a bit more like my weird $10 junk-box Sev. Alex. Sestertius:
