Sorting out a large pile of coins and I just found a Vestal Virigin. you can see the coin in the picture-- Aquilia Severa was a Vestal Virgin and the second and fourth wife of Elagabalus. Because she was a Vestal Virgin, the first marriage was nullified because the VV’s had to take a 30 year vow of celibacy to the goddess Vesta. The person behind the break-up was probably by his grandmother Julia Maesa; who was responsible for his rise to power. Elagabalus married her again though and they were still married until his assassination in A.D. 222; but after that date, nothing more is known about Aquilia Severa. Aquilia Severa A.D. 220- 222 AR Denarius 19x20mm 3.1g IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG; draped bust right. CONCORDIA; Concordia standing left, holding patera and double cornucopia; on left lighted altar, ✶ in left. RIC IV Rome 225 Elagabalus A.D. 222 AR Denarius 17x18mm 3.0g IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG; laureate, and draped bust right P M TRP V COS IIII P P; Elagabalus standing left sacrificing out of patera over lighted altar and holding branch; in left field ✶. RIC IV Rome 53 Julia Maesa A.D. 218- 224 AR Denarius 19x20mm 3.1g IVLIA MAESA AVG; draped bust right. SAECVLI FELICITAS; Felicitas standing half-left, sacrificing out of a patera over lighted altar, holding long caduceus in left hand, star in right field. RIC IV Rome 271 Grandmother of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander
Aquilia Severa (220, & 221 - 222 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IVLIA AQUILIA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right. R: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding double cornucopia and sacrificing with patera over altar to left; star to right. Rome Mint 19mm 3.02g RIC IV(part 2), pg 47, #226 (Elagabalus)
I have never been a fan of collecting ancient coins because I don't like that many are hard to make out details. However, this lot you have up here are very impressive (at least to my eye) that I wouldn't mind collecting them if I could get them all in this shape with sharp details.
You have to pay to play...this lot was not cheap and the vig was stout. Seriously though, lots of nice condition ancients are available...you have to spend a little time familiarizing yourself with prices and types and then you can definitely find some good deals.
@Victor_Clark , great coins! JULIA AQUILA SEVERA: RI Julia Aquila Severa 220-222 CE AE 4th Wife Elagabalus Elly RProv AE18mm 4.3g Elagabalus CE 218-222 Thrace Philippolis Snake tripod Moushmov 5423 MAESA RI Julia Maesa AR Denarius Pudicitia 3.1g 19mm Sear 2183
As the Pontifex Maximus, the emperor was the only person who had the right to touch or even cancel something sacred. The vestal virgins were sacred, so sacred that nobody had the right to kill them or shed their blood, this is why they were executed by being buried alive... The Pont. Max. was the only male who could enter the temple of Vesta and the House of Vestal virgins. He was the only one who could not only see the Palladium, the holiest and most sacred relic of Rome, kept in the temple of Vesta, but also touch it and move it. Under the Republic the Pont. Max. could destitute a plebeian tribune, who was sacrosanctus for everybody else. In the Catholic Church the Pontifex Maximus is the Pope, the only authority that can cancel a catholic marriage which is a sacrament mere mortals just cannot dissolve. The calendar is sacred too. This is why only a Pontifex Maximus can change it. This has been done twice, by Julius Caesar and by Pope Gregory XIII, both being Pont. Max. By marrying a vestal virgin, who was sacred, and even moving the Palladium from the temple of Vesta to his own palace on the Palatine hill, the emperor Elagabalus just claimed his right as Pontifex Maximus.
