Julia Domna AR Denarius AD 193-217 Ch AU
$250.00
$258.12
Check/Wire
Credit Card
| Quantity | Check/Wire | Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 250.00 | 258.12 |
- SKU: BFB005395
- Categories: ANCIENTS ROMAN ROMAN EMPIRE
The denarius (plural denarii) was the Roman Empire’s benchmark silver coin for over 400 years (c. 211 BC - c. 244 AD). This specific denarius features a bust of Julia Domna and was minted during the reign of her husband, Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193-211 AD.
Julia Domna was born circa 160 AD to the high priest Bassainus at Emesa in Syria. In 193 she became empress of the Roman Empire as the wife of Septimius Severus. They had two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who ruled jointly with their father from 209-211. When Septimius Severus died in 211, Caracalla and Geta created separate military factions, bringing the empire close to civil war. Julia was forced to witness and helpless to prevent Geta’s assassination by Caracalla in 212. Now the sole emperor, Caracalla would leave Julia in control of non-military aspects of the empire any time he left for battle. He gave her the title “mother of the Senate and of the fatherland”. She also became the first empress to be granted the title combination “Pia Felix Augusta”, which translates literally to pious happy empress, but may have served to indicate that she was more powerful than an average empress. Julia is believed to have starved herself to death upon receiving news of Caracalla’s murder in 217, though some think she was ordered to do so by Macrinus, the new emperor.
This coin was graded Ch AU (choice almost uncirculated) by the Numismatic Grading Company, the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. Here is a list of grades used by the NGC, as well as information about Strike, Surface, and Style ratings.
Julia Domna was born circa 160 AD to the high priest Bassainus at Emesa in Syria. In 193 she became empress of the Roman Empire as the wife of Septimius Severus. They had two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who ruled jointly with their father from 209-211. When Septimius Severus died in 211, Caracalla and Geta created separate military factions, bringing the empire close to civil war. Julia was forced to witness and helpless to prevent Geta’s assassination by Caracalla in 212. Now the sole emperor, Caracalla would leave Julia in control of non-military aspects of the empire any time he left for battle. He gave her the title “mother of the Senate and of the fatherland”. She also became the first empress to be granted the title combination “Pia Felix Augusta”, which translates literally to pious happy empress, but may have served to indicate that she was more powerful than an average empress. Julia is believed to have starved herself to death upon receiving news of Caracalla’s murder in 217, though some think she was ordered to do so by Macrinus, the new emperor.
This coin was graded Ch AU (choice almost uncirculated) by the Numismatic Grading Company, the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. Here is a list of grades used by the NGC, as well as information about Strike, Surface, and Style ratings.
Obverse: IVLIA AVGVSTA (Julia Augusta, Empress Julia); bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right
Reverse: Legend: SAECVLI FELICITAS (Saeculi Felicitas, Age of Good Fortune); Isis, wearing peaked headdress, standing right, left foot on prow, nursing infant Horus at her breast; rudder resting against altar behind
Reference: RCV 6606, RIC IV Septimius Severus 577
