The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Cornelia Paula hailed from an influential family, owing both patrician Roman and Greek ancestry. Like any young woman of her status, she could expect an arranged marriage in her future, with any luck, into a family of even higher status. As it turned out, she did extremely well (or so she probably thought at the time): she was destined to become Augusta, taking on the new praenomen of Julia. In early 219 AD, Julia Maesa arranged the betrothal between Julia Cornelia Paula and her grandson, the newly ascended Augustus Elagabalus. It was a brilliant move on Julia Maesa’s part, tying her Emesan dynasty into a more traditional, Roman aristocratic one. Certainly, Julia Paula should have been pleased to rise to status of Augusta. Regarding Elegabalus, he went along with the plan, but preferred other designs that would materialize in due course. The wedding ceremony took place in Rome with much pomp and circumstance, concurrent with generous donatives provided to not only the military, but also the senatorial and equestrian classes. Julia Paula was now officially an Augusta, and she was honored commensurately, for example on coins such as this denarius struck in Rome in 220 AD. Her youthful bust is featured on the obverse, with the appropriate inscription IVLIA PAVLA AVG. On the reverse is Concordia, the Roman goddess personifying related concepts such as concord, agreement, and harmony, with the inscription signifying the same. On Roman coins, Concordia was often employed to convey concord of the Emperor with his subjects, and, more importantly, with the Roman military. In this instance, the exact intent is not certain: probably it refers to concord of the new imperial couple and their extended families. Almost invariably, Concordia's presence on Roman coinage serve a propagandistic, and ultimately ironic, function. The current example is no exception. After less than a year, Elagabalus declared Julia Paula not bodily suited to continue as his wife. With other sexual exploits in mind, the Emperor not only divorced Julia Paula, but also proceeded into a scandalous marriage with the Aquilia Severa, a Vestal Virgin (Rome’s citizens were in for even more wild sexual and religious antics; see owner’s comments on Elgabalus’ coin for more details). Although these developments embarrassed Julia Paula’s clan, they would recover. For example, Julia’s father, Julius Paulus, later rose to praetorian prefect under Severus Alexander. As for the former Augusta (Elgabalus stripper her of the title), she withdrew from public life and her fate afterwards is unknown. Coin Details:Julia Paula. Augusta, AD 219-220. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.16 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 220. NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Reverse: Concordia seated left, holding patera, star to left, CONCORDIA, References: RIC IV 211 (Elagabalus); BMCRE 172; RSC 6a.

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