Nomos 8

Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 2.75 g 11), Rome, 229. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG Laureate head of Severus Alexander to right. Rev. P M TR P VIII COS III P P Severus Alexander, standing right in consular robes and holding eagle tipped scepter, in decorated quadriga walking right. BMC p, 170, note to 575 = Cohen 376 = RIC 99 (all referring to a cast in Paris). Extremely rare, probably unique. A lovely, sharply struck coin. Good extremely fine.

From the collection of a European specialist.

This coin was struck to celebrate Severus Alexander’s eighth consulship. Once again, this type and legend was previously known on aurei, sestertii, dupondii and asses (as well as from an ae medal in Paris), but the only previously known denarius was a cast, also in Paris. This piece provides us with a perfect example of a denarius that must have been struck as a donative in very limited numbers; while the aes issues are common enough, since they were designed to be widely distributed, the accompanying aurei and denarii are only known from single surviving examples.