Aquilia Severa: The Vestal Virgin who became empress, twice…

In 220 AD, the emperor Elagabalus made the solar deity Elagabal the chief god of the Roman empire, taking precedence over Jupiter and the rest of the Roman pantheon.

The deity was given a wife, Pallas, whose sacred statue was housed in the Temple of Vesta and tended by Vestal Virgins, and the emperor himself went on to marry one of the Vestal Virgins, Aquilia Severa. This was a controversial move as Vestal Virgins were sworn to celibacy.

The most sacred relics from the Roman religion were transferred from their respective shrines to the Elagabalium, so that no other god could be worshipped except in association with Elagabal. The move drew a lot of opposition and the moon goddess Caelestis was chosen as the god’s new bride. The emperor, in turn, was forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, likely at the urging of his grandmother Julia Maesa.

Elagabalus went on to marry Annia Faustina, only to divorce her the same year and remarry Aquilia Severa. Severa’s fate after Elagalabus’ assassination is unknown.

Aquilia Severa’s coins tend to be pricey (though less than those of Annia Faustina). I have only managed to acquire this “budget” specimen. The coins of Julia Paula (Elagabalus’ first wife) are easier to find and more affordable than both.

Please add your specimens of Aquilia Severa (or any of Elagabalus’ wives’) coins to this thread.

Aquilia Severa, Augusta (220-221 AD and late 221-222 AD), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 220 AD, RIC 225 (2.78 g, 19 mm)

Obverse: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG. Draped bust of Aquilia Severa, right

Reverse: CONCORDIA. Concordia standing front, head to left, holding patera in her right hand over lighted alter and double cornucopiae in her left. In field, to left, star.

 

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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)

 

Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted for JULIA MAESA, grandmother of ELAGABALUS and SEVERUS ALEXANDER, between 222 - 225 A.D. Obv. IVLIA.MAESA.AVG.: dr. bust r. Rev. SAECVLI.FELICITAS.: Felicitas stg. l., sacrificing over altar. RCS #2184. RSCIII #45. RICIV #271. DVM #12.

 

Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted for JULIA SOAEMIAS mother of ELAGABALUS, between 218 - 222 A.D. Obv. IVLIA.SOAMIAS.: dr. bust r. Rev. VENVS.CAELESTIS.: Venus, diad., stg. l., holding apple and sceptre; in field, star. RCS #2170. RSCIII #8. RICIV #241. DVM #2/1.

 

- Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted for JULIA PAULA, first wife of ELAGABALUS, between 219 - 220 A.D. Obv. IVLIA.PAVLA.AVG.: dr. bust r. Rev. CONCORDIA.: Concordia seated l., holding patera and double cornucopia. RCS #2149. RSCIII #6. DVM #1/1.

 

Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted for AQUILA SEVERA, second wife of ELAGABALUS, between 220 - 222 A.D. Obv. IVLIA.AQVILIA.SEVERA.AVG.: dr. bust r. Rev. CONCORDIA.: Concordia standing l., holding patera and double cornucopia, altar at feet. RCS #2158. RSCIII #2a. RICIV #225. DVM #1.

 

One of the very rare (less than 70 known in total) Sestertii of Aquilia Severa:



IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG – diademed and draped bust right
CONCORDIA AVG – Concordia standing left, sacrificing over lighted altar and holding double cornucopiae, star in right field
Sestertius, Rome mint, early 221 A.D.
18.92 g / 30,15 mm / 12 h
RIC IV 390 (Elagabalus), pl. VII.3 (same reverse die); Cohen 4 (same dies); BMCRE 433, plate 96.8 (same obverse die), Banti 4 (same obverse die), Sear RCV II, 7681 (same dies), Hunter 3, plate 41 (same dies).
ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 76, lot 1088, ex Zeno Pop collection

 

Here we have Aquila Severa on a Roman provincial. I belie it is from Tyre with an agonistic urn on the reverse with plant growing out of it. After the death of her husband she disappears from the historical record and is never heard of again. I hope she wasn't killed along with her divine husband.

 

I have only two coins from this empress:

IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG / CONCORDIA (star on the left to concordia)

Weight : 3,32 gr

References : Ric 225 / RSC 2a / Cohen 2 (20 francs) / RCV 7679 / BMC 184

 

And the second one :

IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG / LAETITIA

Weight : 2,78 gr.

References: RIC 229 / RSC 9a.