Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Julius Germanicus]

Sestertii of Heliogabalus, Julia Paula, Julia Aquilia Severa, Julia Soaemias, and Julia Maesa:

 

[shanxi]

 

Elagabal

Elagabalus
Moesia Inferior, Nikopolis
Obv.: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC, Laureate, draped bust right
Rev.: ΥΠ ΝΟΒΙΟΥ ΡΟΥΦΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
ΠΡΟCΙC
TP ON
Tetrastyle temple, statue of Zeus or Serapis
AE, 13.82g, 26.7mm
Ref.: Hristova / Jekov No. 8.26.46.13

[shanxi]

Julia Paula

Julia Paula (219-220)
AR Denar, Rome
Obv.: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Draped bust right.
Rev.: VENVS GE ETRIX (N missing) , Venus seated left with apple and sceptre.
Ag, 3.09g, 18.4mm
Ref.: RIC 222

[shanxi]

Aquilia Severa

Aquilia Severa
AR Denar 220-221
Obv.: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing, head turned left, holding patera and double cornucopiae, altar and star right.
Ag, 2.73g, 18.92mm
Ref.: RIC 226

[ambr0zie]

Elagabal:

19 mm 3.34 g

Elagabalus, 218-222. Denarius, Rome, 220-222. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust of Elagabalus to right, wearing 'horn' over forehead. Rev. SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG, Elagabalus standing front, head to left, holding patera over lighted altar in his right hand and club in his left; in field to left, star. BMC 231. RSC 276a. RIC 146.

Julia Paula (the only coin of one of the Mrs Elagabal)

Julia Paula. Augusta AD 219-220. Rome
Denarius AR
17 mm, 1,93 g
RIC IV Elagabalus 211 S; BMCRE 172 (Elagabalus); RSC 6a
Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Bust of Julia Paula, hair waved and fastened in plait, draped, right / Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand; in field, star
 

Grandmother

Julia Maesa. Augusta AD 218-224. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm., 2,31 g. 
Mother of Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, grandmother of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander 
RIC IV Elagabalus 249           
Date Range: AD 218 - AD 222 
IVLIA MAESA AVG, bust of Julia Maesa, hair waved and turned up low at the back, draped, right 
FECVNDITAS AVG
Fecunditas, draped, standing left, extending her right hand over a child and holding cornucopiae in left hand
 

Mother:

RIC IV Elagabalus 241  C
Date Range: AD 218 - AD 222
IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, bust of Julia Soaemias, hair waved and turned up low at the back, draped, right
VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus, diademed, draped, standing left, holding apple in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; sometimes in field, star
 

[mc9]

When i saw this portait i had to have this coin. My favorite Elagabalus coins :

 

IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right

SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG : emperor standing left, holding branch and sacrificing out of patera over tripod; on left, star

Denarius , Rome, AD 218-222 , RIC IVa 146

 

IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG , Laureate and draped bust right, with “horn” above forehead

SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG : Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing from patera over altar and holding branch; star to left.

Denarius , Rome , AD 221 , RIC IVa 146

 

IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG : radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

VICTOR ANTONINI AVG : Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm.

Antoninianus , Rome, AD 219 , RIC IVa 155

[mc9]

The Empresses:

Julia Paula:

IVLIA PAVLA AVG : Her draped bust right

CONCORDIA : Concordia seated left, holding patera; star to left

Denarius , Rome , A.D. 220 , RIC IV 211

Julia Aquilia:

IVLIA AQVILLA SEVERA AVG : draped bust right

CONCORDIA : Concordia standing left, holding patera over altar and double cornuacopiae; star in left field

Denarius ,  Rome , AD 220-222 , RIC IV 225

Juila Soaemias:

JULIA SOAEMIAS AVG : Draped bust r. R

VENUS CAELESTIS : Venus seated l., holding apple and sceptre; child standing r. before, arms raised.

Denarius , Rome, A.D. 218-220 , RIC IV 243

My favorite female portrait : Julia Maesa:

IVLIA MAESA AVG : Bust of Julia Maesa, hair waved and turned up low at the back, draped, right

SAECVLI FELICITAS : Felicitas, draped, standing left, sacrifcing with patera in right hand over lighted altar

and holding long caduceus in left hand; in right field, star

Denarius, Rome , A.D. 218-222, RIC IV 271

[Spaniard]

My favourite Elagabalus...

Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. AR Denarius (3.22 gm, 19mm). Rome mint. Struck 219 AD.
Obv.: laureate and draped bust right.
Rev.: Providentia standing left with legs crossed, leaning on column to right, holding rod over globe in right hand and cornucopia in left.
RIC IV 23; RSC 144

And mummy...

JULIA SOAEMIAS, mother of Elagabalus. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.87 gm).
Obverse..IVLIA SOEMIAS AVG, draped bust right.
Reverse..VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre; star in left field.
RIC IV 241; BMCRE 45; RSC 8.

[Prieure de Sion]

I have to admit - I don't have a great selection of coins at all where I could say this is a fantastic portrait of Elagabal. Here my only coin where I say - here I find the portrait very hit.

 

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Elagabal

Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 218/222 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 20mm; Weight: 3.51g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Elagabalus 73b; Obverse: The right-facing draped bust of Elagabalus with a laurel wreath can be seen. The inscription reads: IMP ANTONINVS AVG for Imperator Antoninus Augustus; Reverse: You can see the personification of Fides standing to the left with her head turned to the right. In her left hand she holds a vexillum (material field sign) and in her right hand a signum (standard). The inscription reads: FIDES MILITVM for Fides Militum (loyalty of soldiers).

 

 

 

However - and speaking of the time of Elagabal here - I have here the grandmother of the young emperor. This portrait is one of the most impressive of the dignified elderly lady - in my opinion.

 

Iulia Maesa

Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 218/222 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 2.85g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Elagabalus 268; Obverse: You can see the draped bust of Iulia Maesa facing right. The inscription reads: IVLIA MAESA AVG for Iulia Maesa Augusta; Reverse: You can see the personification of Pudicitia seated to the left. With her right hand she pulls the veil over her face, in her right hand she holds a scepter. The inscription reads: PVDICITIA for Pudicitia (modesty).

 

[CPK]

@Prieure de Sion That is a very fine Julia Maesa portrait, and, one feels, closer to actual reality! Thanks for posting!

[Hughie Dwyer]

Horned Elagabalus:

 

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Elagabalus Denarius featuring the Baetyl in a Quadriga:

 

Elagabalus Antioch AR Tetradrachm:

[Qcumbor]

Here's a nice portrait of Elagabal as a young lad, well before he began, well, you know... :

 

And some of the ladies out there : Paula, Soemias and Maesa. My prefered portrait is that of Maesa, even though it looks idealized (I've read somewhere the engraver was a certain Photoshoppus 😄 )

Q

 

[John Conduitt]

I have a genuine Elagabalus, but this has both the horn and the deleted star...

Elagabalus Contemporary Cast Imitation Denarius, 218-220

Imitating Rome. Base metal, 18mm, 1.90g. Laureate, horned, draped bust right; IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Elagabalus, in Syrian priestly robes, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod, holding club in left hand; behind tripod, bull lying down; star in field to left, erased star in field to right?; INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG (RIC IV, 88b). Found in the UK.

[Shea19]

Elagabalus (with and without “horn”)

 

Julia Maesa

[DonnaML]

Some great coins of Elagabalus and his family! Interesting that so far only @Roman Collector seems to have an Annia Faustina to post -- I guess coins depicting her are as scarce as I've read. I've never seen one for sale myself. 

I do have all the others -- young and not quite as young, beardless and bearded and horned, Mom and Grandma, and two wives:

Elagabalus AR Denarius, 218-219 AD, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate draped bust right, no beard, ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG/Rev. Two standards between two legionary eagles, CONCORDIA MILIT. RIC IV-2 187, RSC III 15, Sear  RCV II 7505 (ill.). 18 mm., 2.8 g.

Elagabalus, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 3 (219/220 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, Α ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΜΑ ΑΥΡ - ΑΝΤѠΝΙΝΟϹ ƐΥϹƐΒ / Rev. Nike advancing right, holding wreath out with right hand and palm branch over left shoulder with left hand, L Γ [Year 3] before her. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Online Vol. VI, 10053 (temporary) at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/10053; Emmett 2939.3 (R2); Dattari (Savio) 4122; Milne 2776 at p. 69 (wreath-ties “d,” one turned forwards, the other backwards); Geissen (Köln) 2320; K&G 56.28. 23 mm., 12.40 g., 12 h. Ex CNG E-Auction 403, Lot 432, Aug 9, 2017 (see https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=34134);  ex Hermanubis Collection.

Elagabalus AR Denarius, AD 219-220, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, no beard, IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG / Rev. Liberalitas standing facing, head left, holding abacus in outstretched right hand and cornucopiae in left, LIBERALITAS AVG II. 19 mm., 3.15 g., 12 h. RIC IV-2 Elagabalus 100, RSC III Elagabalus 81a. Purchased from London Ancient Coins, 2 Jan. 2023.

Elagabalus AR Denarius, 221-222 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, bearded, with horn (or bull phallus) extending above laurel wreath, IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG/ Rev. Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing from patera over lit tripod altar, holding branch, star in field left, SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG.  RIC IV-2 146, RSC III 276 (bearded), Sear RCV II 7549.  17.71 mm., 3.97 g.

Is this the very first time a Roman emperor was portrayed wearing what looks like a pair of pants instead of a toga or robes or a military uniform?

Elagabalus and Julia Maesa [his grandmother], AE Pentassarion [5 Assaria], 218-222 AD, Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior [now Devnya, Bulgaria] (Iulius Antonius Seleucus, Consular Legate). Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right, facing draped bust of Julia Maesa left, wearing stephane, AVT K M AVΡ ANTΩNEINOC AVΓ IOYΛIA MAICA AVΓ / Rev. Hera standing, head left, holding patera downwards in right hand and staff in left hand, VΠ IOVΛ ANT CEΛEVKOV MAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩ, E [mark of value for “5”] in right field. Moushmov 688 [see http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/moushmov/markianopolis.html for English translation of H. Moushmov, Ancient Coins of the Balkan Peninsula (1912)]; Varbanov I 1651 [[Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]; AMNG I/I 944 [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I (Berlin, 1898) at p. 272] [available at https://archive.org/details/p1dieantikenmn01akaduoft/page/271/mode/1up]; H&J 6.28.1.2.  26 mm., 9.45 g.

Julia Paula (first wife of Elagabalus). AR Denarius 219-220 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA PAVLA AVG / Rev. Concordia seated left, holding patera in right hand; star in left field, CONCORDIA. RIC IV-2 211 (Elagabalus), RSC III 6a, BMCRE 172 (Elagabalus). 21 mm., 2.49 g., 6h. 

Julia Paula (first wife of Elagabalus), AE 21, 219-220 AD, Mysia, Parium [Parion in Greek]. Obv. Draped and diademed bust right, IVLIA P-AVLA AVG / Rev. Capricorn right, holding globe between hooves, cornucopia above, CGIHP [Colonia Gemella Ivlia Hadriana Pariana -- colony founded by Julius Caesar] below. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VI, 3858 (temporary); RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/3858; Lindgren & Kovacs 289 [Lindgren, H.C. & Kovacs, F.L., Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant (San Mateo, CA 1985). 21 mm., 5.67 g., 10 h. (Purchased from VAuctions, Pars Coins, Sale 354, Lot 195, Nov. 16, 2020.)

Aquilia Severa (second wife of Elagabalus), AR Denarius 220-222 AD, Rome mint. Obv: Draped bust right, IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG / Rev: Concordia standing left, holding patera over lighted altar and double cornucopiae; star in lower right field; CONCORDIA. RIC IV-2 226 (Elagabalus); RSC III 2. 18 mm., 3.2 g. Rare.

Julia Soaemias (mother of Elagabalus), AR Denarius 220-221 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG / Rev. Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple & scepter; large star in right field, VENVS CAELESTIS.* RIC IV-2 241 (Elagabalus); RSC III 8b. 18 mm., 2.85 g. 

*Roman equivalent of the Greek Aphrodite Ourania, who was associated in Greco-Roman mythography with the eastern goddess Astarte (a/k/a Ishtar, Ashtaroth,  etc.)

Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander), AR Denarius, 218-22 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA MAESA AVG / Rev. Fecunditas standing left holding cornucopiae, an unidentified small child at her feet, FECVNDI-TAS AVG.  RIC IV-2 249, RSC III 8 (ill.), Sear RCV II 7749. 20.08 mm., 2.58 g.

For whatever reason, Julia Maesa looks considerably younger in this portrait than on most of her coins.

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by DonnaML

[shanxi]

Julia Soaemias

Julia Soaemias
AR Denar
Obv.: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, draped bust right;
Rev.: VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus seated left, holding apple and scepter, at her feet a child
Ag, 3.56g, 19.2mm
Ref.: RIC IVb, p.48, 243

[shanxi]

Julia Maesa

Julia Maesa
AR Denar
Obv.: IVLIA MAESA AVG, draped bust right.
Rev. IVNO REG, Iuno standing left, holding patera and sceptre; to left, peacock.
Ag, 3.59g, 18.2mm
Ref.: RIC IVb, 259 var (IVNO REG not REGI), RSC 23a, CRE 480 [R]

[Limes]

Two denarii of Elagabal. One for the 'horned' portrait, and, admittedly, the other one because of the reverse. Nice to see @Ancient Coin Hunterhas the same type in his collection! 

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

JULIA MAESA (UNDER ELAGABALUS: 218 - 11 Mar 222 CE)
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT Year 03 (219/220 CE)
Bi Tetradrachm
Size: 24 mm
Weight: 11.0 g
Axis: 11:00
Broucheion Collection R-1998-06-19.001

Obv: Julia Maesa draped bust facing right. Legend: OYΛMAICA - CЄBMHTCTPA. Dotted border.
Rev: Isis bust draped and wearing headress of moon between plumes, facing left. In left field: L; In right field Γ. Dotted border.
Refs: Emmett-3056.03; Geissen-2356; Dattari-4223; Milne-2782; Curtis-1000; BMC-1575/1576; Mionnet-2573; Vogt I, 176; Vogt II, 121
Provenance: ex Hendin (Amphora); ex NFA Fall Mail Bid Sale 1990 (18 Oct 1990) , Lot #2441, pl vi.

- Broucheion

Edited February 11, 2023 by Broucheion

[CPK]

We got a good showing with Elagabalus - Thank you!

We now come to his successor, the last of the Severan family line - Severus Alexander:

 

A cousin of Elagabalus, Severus Alexander became Emperor after the former's murder in A.D. 222. At 13 he was then the youngest sole Emperor in Roman history, and his reign of 13 years was the longest since that of Antoninus Pius some 60 years previous.

Severus Alexander ruled under the guidance of his ever-scheming grandmother Julia Maesa (the same who had arranged for both Elagabalus's ascension, and later his murder), as well as his mother Julia Mamaea. Though the young Severus himself had little experience in government and military matters, his moderation and respectability, in sharp contradistinction to his hated predecessor, won him considerable respect and support.

Unfortunately, after some conflicts with Germanic invaders in A.D. 235, Severus attempted to bribe the enemy armies to surrender; this act outraged his soldiers and they mutinied, murdering both Severus Alexander and his mother Julia Mamaea. The Severan Dynasty was ended, and the Roman State was now set for the free-fall plunge into chaos.

Let's see your favorite portrait coins of this young Emperor!

 

[Edessa]

Not a classical portrait and it does rather look as if young Severus is having a sneeze...

Kings of Bosporus. Kotys III, AD 227-234, with Severus Alexander. EL Stater (20mm, 7.49g, 1h). Dated Bosporan Era 525 (AD 228/229). Obv: BACIΛЄѠC KOTYOC; Diademed and draped bust of Kotys right. Rev: Laureate head of Severus Alexander right; ЄKΦ (date) below, pellet before. Ref: MacDonald 574/1; Anokhin 655; Frolova pl. LV, 11. Nice Very Fine, slight scratches in reverse field. Ex Atlantis.

[Roman Collector]

Sestertii:

Severus Alexander, AD 222-235.
Roman Æ sestertius; 21.72 gm, 28.4 mm.
Rome, AD 229.
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter.
Refs: RIC 492; BMCRE 570; Cohen 372; RCV 7996.

Orbiana, wife of Severus Alexander, Augusta AD 225-227.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.02 g, 28.6 mm, 12 h.
Rome, special marriage issue, AD 225.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM S C, Severus Alexander, togate, standing right, holding scroll in left hand and clasping right hands with Orbiana, veiled and draped, standing left.
Refs: RIC 657; BMCRE 301; Cohen 6; RCV 8194; Banti 3.

Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 21.15 g, 29.5 mm, 1 h.
Rome, 6th emission, AD 226.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VESTA S C, Vesta standing left, holding Palladium and scepter.
Refs: RIC 708; BMCRE 389-91; Cohen 83; RCV 8236.

[Severus Alexander]

Well, I happen to have more than a few portraits of this guy that I really like. 😁 So I challenged myself to choose my top five, and here's what I came up with:

Starting with the most "ordinary," my favourite phase of SA's portraiture is the middle one, of which this denarius is typical:

But I think the style and execution on this die are particularly good.

From an earlier phase comes this rather unusual depiction:

^ Maybe it's only because I look at so many SA portraits, but this one struck me as very special. Note the unusual treatment of the sideburns and the 'stache with no beard; and I find it to be, overall, a very "lifelike" portrait (as distinct from accurate. By "lifelike" I just mean not cartoonish, more like a real person.)

Moving to a younger Sev, I love the portrait on this sestertius:

Again, very "lifelike" I think, and with some character to it.

Now to provincials, which of course show a wide variety of styles. It's hard to pick my favourite tetradrachm (sadly, none from Antioch exist so we're restricted to Egypt), but here is a nice  portrait in good Alexandria style:

And finally, leaving perhaps the best (or at least most remarkable!) for last, get a load of Sev's pecs on this unique(?) provincial from Cotiaeum:

I tell ya, my Sev portrait is gonna beat up all of your Sevs!!! He's gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!  🥊 😆 “C’mon, champ, hit me in the face! My mom hits harder than you!” – Rocky Balboa

(Frankly, I'm glad the design team pulled the plug on this die very quickly... good grief! 🤦‍♂️)

Edited February 12, 2023 by Severus Alexander

[Qcumbor]

Love your Sevs Sev !

And I know for sure you like some of mine either

Mummy's boy :

 

And Boy's mummy :

Q