The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC MS* Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Julia Mamaea (ca. 180 - 235 AD) was the niece of Emperor Septimus Severus and Empress Julia Domna. After the death of her cousin Caracalla, she helped convince her nephew (the newly proclaimed Emperor Elagabalus) to adopt her son Alexander Severus as heir. Julia was declared Empress in 222 AD upon Emperor Elagabalus’s murder, as regent for her 13-year-old son. Julia was extremely attentive to Alexander’s raising and grooming; in turn, he followed her advice faithfully and esteemed her, naming her consors imperii (partner in rule). Coins advertised Julia as Augusta, such as on the obverse of this denarius struck in Rome around 232 AD. The relationship between mother and son (Augusta and Augustus) is further illustrated on the verso, wherein Fecunditas, Goddess of fertility, stretches out her hand to a small boy. Consistent with the coin’s imagery, Julia jealously watched over Alexander. She tried (in vain) to convince her sixteen-year-old son not to name his new bride, Barbia Orbiana, as co-Augusta. Julia's protective instincts were validated when Orbiana's father sought to make himself co-regent. Inevitably, a power struggle ensued. In the end, Orbiana was banished to Africa and her father was executed. Julia accompanied her son on various campaigns, following the custom started by her aunt Julia Domna. Over time, she and her son because increasingly unpopular as the troop's perception spread that Alexander was a weak ruler, dominated completely by his mother. In 235 AD, mother and son joined their troops to deal with the threat of Germanic tribes along the Rhine. It is widely described that Julia advised Alexander to bribe the barbarians for peace. The disapproving troops murdered Julia and Alexander, thus ending their Severan dynasty. Coin details: Roman Empire, Julia Mamaea (222-235 AD), AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 232 AD, NGC Grade: MS*, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Diademed and draped bust bust right, IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, Reverse: Fecunditas standing left, holding cornucopiae and stretching out right hand to boy standing right, FECVND AVGVSTA, References: RIC IV 331 (Alexander); BMCRE 917-9 (Alexander); RSC 5.

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