SEVERUS ALEXANDER GOLD AUREUS – EMPEROR AS NEW ROMULUS ISSUE – CHOICE MINT STATE 5-5 5-5 FINE STYLE NGC GRADED ROMAN IMPERIAL COIN (Inv. 19617)

$24,500.00

19617. ROMAN EMPIRE. SEVERUS ALEXANDER, AD 222–235.
Gold Aureus, 6.05 g, 20 mm
Obv. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right. Rev. P M TR P VIIII COS III P P, Severus Alexander in the guise of Romulus walking right, wearing radiate crown and holding spear and trophy.
RIC IV 103; Calicó 3121 (same dies).
NGC graded CHOICE MINT STATE, Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5, FINE STYLE, lustrous, perfectly struck and exceptional in every way.

The reverse of this spectacular gold aureus is generally though to depict Severus Alexander in the guise of Romulus, as it closely copies similar types representing the founder of Rome used for coins of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. Here however, the Romulus figure wears a clear laurel crown signaling that it is intended to be understood as a depiction of the emperor as a new Romulus. Such an image was very appropriate for the reign of Severus Alexander, which was heavily focused on restoring Roman traditions and dignity after the disastrous reign of his cousin Elagabalus (AD 218-222). The hated Elagabalus had trampled on much Roman custom in his desire to make the Syrian god Elagabal the supreme deity and to impose foreign ways in Rome. In stark contrast, Severus Alexander was presented as the emperor who would undo what Elagabalus had done and set things right again in the city on the Tiber.