Julia Mamaea Silver Denarius — Struck AD 222 ☆ Mother of Severus Alexander

Denomination: Denarius

Historical Period: Roman: Imperial (27 BC-476 AD)

Cleaned/Uncleaned: Uncleaned

Composition: Silver

Provenance: Ownership History Not Available

Year: 27 BC

Era: Ancient

Fineness: 0.9

KM Number: 90

Ruler: Severus Alexander

An exceptional, highly detailed example of an ancient Roman silver Denarius struck under Empress Julia Mamaea during her very first year of imperial power in AD 222. Following the assassination of her chaotic nephew Elagabalus, Mamaea successfully engineered the elevation of her young son, Severus Alexander, to the throne. From day one, she held absolute de facto control over the Roman Empire, micro-managing state affairs and tightly controlling her son's life as an infamous "meddling mother."

Her overbearing grip on power ultimately proved fatal. In AD 235, furious at her perceived weakness and interference with military budgets, mutinous legions stormed the imperial tent on the German frontier, brutally murdering both Julia Mamaea and her son together.

This historic first-year coin features the legendary reverse type IVNO CONSERVATRIX (Juno the Protector). As the queen of the Roman gods, Juno was the ultimate symbol of imperial female majesty, and she is accompanied here by her sacred animal, the peacock. This coin stands as a stunning, tangible artifact from one of Rome's most famous imperial family dramas.