An Overview of the Coinage for Orbiana

[Roman Collector]

Bust of Empress Sallustia Orbiana, wife of Alexander Severus. Marble, 3rd century CE. H 23 cm (9 in.). Artist unknown. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Accession number: Ma 1054 (MR 538).

Biography:

We know very little about Orbiana, such as when she was born or any details about her early life. She was a daughter of a senator Lucius Seius Herennius Sallustius, and following Roman customs of naming children, she was named Gnaea Seia Herennia Sallustia Barbia Orbiana after her father's lineage. Although we don't know in what year she was born, she was probably in her teens when she entered into a marriage with the then sixteen-year-old Severus Alexander in 225 CE, an arrangement orchestrated by Julia Mamaea, the emperor's mother.

Oddly enough, although the history of Severus Alexander is recorded by Cassius Dio, Herodian, Zosimus, and Lampridius, and all of them mention at least one wife (Zosimus says Severus Alexander had three of them), none of them mention Orbiana by name. The Historia at one point gives his wife's name as Memmia, at another, citing Dexippus, it calls her simply Macrini filia (the daughter of Macrinus). Herodian does not name Alexander's wife at all.[1]

It is only through numismatic evidence that we know her name and that she was married to Severus Alexander.

Supposedly, early historians and numismatists thought Orbiana was the wife of Trajan Decius until coins were discovered depicting Severus and Orbiana together.[2, 3] We know her full name from Alexandrian Tetradrachms bearing her complete name on the obverse inscription (e.g. Dattari 4452).

Severus Alexander's marriage to Orbiana lasted but a few years, however. Historians report that Julia Mamaea grew jealous of Orbiana's increasing influence over her son and she had progressively less influence over him herself. To make matters worse for the hapless young empress, her father approached the praetorian guards to further his own designs on the throne. Mamaea dissolved the marriage in AD 227, and Orbiana and her father took refuge among the praetorians. Since this was a clear act of rebellion, Sallustius was executed on charges of high treason and Orbiana was banished to Libya.[1, 4] She becomes at this point lost to history and her subsequent fate is unknown.

Coinage:

Official imperial issues for circulation:

All of the Roman Imperial coins appear to have been minted in Rome as a special marriage issue in 225 CE, and pieces depicting Orbiana on the obverse and Concordia seated left on the reverse are found in all metals and denominations ranging from the aureus on down to the as, including the silver quinarius.[5]

I have three such coins in my collection.

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.47 gm, 19.1 mm, 12 h.
Rome, 225 CE.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 319; BMCRE 287-290; Cohen 1; RCV 8191.

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 17.30 g, 28.6 mm, 12 h.
Rome, 225 CE.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM SC, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 655; BMCRE 293-296; Cohen 4; RCV 8193.

]

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman Æ as, 11.43 g, 24.5 mm, 5 h.
Rome, 225 CE.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM SC, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 656; BMCRE 297-298; Cohen 5; RCV 8195.

In addition, a sestertius and a bronze medallion[6] were issued with the reverse type of the emperor and empress standing facing each other and clasping hands. A variety of this coin depicts Severus Alexander holding a scroll in his left hand.

Here is the specimen in my own collection.

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.02 g, 28.6 mm, 12 h.
Rome, 225 CE.
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.

Imperial commemorative medallions:

In addition to these regular issues, rare medallions are described in silver and bronze depicting Severus Alexander and Orbiana, or the Imperial couple along with Julia Mamaea.[7] The existence of some of these coins is doubtful. Mattingly and Sydenham unequivocally state there are "no genuine coins known" depicting Severus Alexander and Orbiana without Mamaea.[8]

A silver medallion of antoninianus size depicting Julia Mamaea on the obverse and the confronted busts of Severus Alexander and Orbiana on the reverse is known from two examples. As noted above, medallions such as this formed the first historical evidence that Orbiana was the name of Severus Alexander's wife. This was sold at auction by Tkalec.[9]

Julia Mamaea, 222-235 CE.
Roman AR Medallion, 5.39 g, 12h.
Rome, 225 CE.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG MAT AVGVSTI, diademed and draped bust left.
Rev: IMP SEV ALEXANDER SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander right; laureate and diademed bust of Orbiana left.
Refs: Gnecchi p 47, 1, pl. 23, 5 (these dies).

Unofficial and counterfeit issues:

In addition, a number of hybrids and fourrées are cited by Cohen and listed in BMCRE6.[10] A variety of reverse types appear on these unofficial and/or counterfeit issues: FECVND AVGVSTAE (reverse of Mamaea), MINERVA VICTRIX (reverse of Caracalla), PROPAGO IMPERI (reverse of Plautilla), PVDICITIA (reverse of Maesa), SAECVLI FELICITAS (reverse of Maesa), and VENVS GENETRIX, both seated and standing (reverses of Mamaea).

Here is a fourrée from my collection, which bears the FECVND AVGVSTAE reverse type of Julia Mamaea.

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman fourrée denarius, 2.45 gm, 18.7 mm, 6 h.
Unknown forgery workshop, c. 232 CE or later.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FECVND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas seated l., reaching out to child.
Ref: Reverse of a denarius of Julia Mamaea, RIC 332, issued in AD 232.

This is a hybrid denarius in the British Museum Collection, BMCRE 987. It bears the Felicitas standing left reverse of Julia Maesa (Cohen 45).



Provincial bronze coinage:

In addition to these official coins and medallions and hybrids and fourrées of the imperial series, a number of provincial mints issued coins depicting Orbiana. Carson[11] notes issues from the following provincial mints: Trapezus, Creteia (Flaviopolis), Prusa ad Olympum, Cyme, Ephesus, Apollonis, Hierocaesareia, Stectorium, Side, Carallia, Colybrassus, and Flaviopolis (Cilicia). Several coins were issued by the mint in Alexandria. This coin, for example (Paul-Francis Jacquier auction 38, lot 257, Sept. 13, 2013) bears Orbiana's complete name. As noted above, it is only from such coins that we know Orbiana's full name.

Orbiana, 225-227 CE.
Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 13.17 g.
Egypt, Alexandria, 226/7 CE.
Obv: ΓN CЄ ЄPЄN CAΛΛ BAP OPBIANH CЄB, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: Eagle standing left, head right, wings closed, holding wreath in beak, L before; S behind.
Refs: Dattari 4452; Milne 3008; Geissen 2499.

Post your Orbiana coins, comments, or anything you feel is relevant.

~~~

Notes:

1. Carson, Robert A. G.. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. VI: Severus Alexander to Balbinus and Pupienus, British Museum, 1962, p. 62.

2. Akerman, John Yonge. A Numismatic Manual. Effingham Wilson, 1832, p. 188, n. 2.

3. Vagi, David L. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, c. 82 B.C.- A.D. 480. Vol. 1, Coin World, 1999, p. 309.

4. Hopkins, R. V. Nind. The Life of Alexander Severus. The University Press, 1907, pp. 57-58.

5. Carson, op. cit., p. 61.

6. Cohen 7 (Paris).

7. Carson, op. cit., pp. 143-44, citing Gnecchi and Cohen.

8. Mattingly, Harold and Sydenham, Edward A. The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 4, Part 1: Pertinax to Geta. London, Spink, 1936, p. 96.

9. Ancient Art & Numismatics. "R551 An Excessively Rare and Important Roman Silver Medallion of Julia Mamaea, Mother of Severus Alexander (222-235 C.E.), with Confronted Busts of Her Son and Daughter-in-Law Orbiana on the Reverse, One of Two Known." Flickr, 26 Dec. 2011, www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/6576383429.

10. Carson, op. cit. p. 211.

11. Ibid, pp. 10-15.

[Ryro]

Great work and excellent forray into the coinage of Orbiana!

Speaking of forrays, here's my fourrée🤣:

Orbiana

Silver Plated Denarius (3.11

g), Augusta, AD 225-227.

Rome, under Severus

Alexander, AD 225. SALL

BARBIA ORBIANA AVG,

diademed and draped bust

of Orbiana right. Reverse:

CONCORDI-A AVGG,

Concordia seated left,

holding patera and double

cornucopiae. RIC 319; BMC

287-90; RSC 1

[Kali]

Orbiana (225 - 227 A.D.)

AR Denarius
O: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVGG,Concordia seated left holding double cornucopia and patera.
Rome
19mm
3.8g
RIC IV 319, RSC III 1, BMCRE VI 287, SRCV II 8191
 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I don't recall seeing an Orbiana before. Very nice examples @Roman Collector

[shanxi]

Well written, here is one of only two I have:

Orbiana
AR Denarius. Rome, AD 225-227
Obv.: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev.: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia
Ag, 2.84g, 18.9mm
Ref.: RIC IV 319, RSC 1, CRE 497 [C]

 

[Qcumbor]

Interesting writeup about this less known empress. From the portraits whe have she must have been very handsome

My only coin of hers is a denarius

Orbiana, Denarius - Rome mint, 225 CE
SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust right
CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left on throne, holding double cornucopia and patera
3.08 gr
Ref : RSC # 1, Cohen # 1, RCV # 8191, RIC # 319

Q

[Roman Collector]

@Ryro, @Kali, @Ancient Coin Hunter, @shanxi, and @Qcumbor, thank you for reading and for your kind words. Lots of beautiful and interesting Orbiana coins posted so far! 

[Valentinian]

Apparently this is the most common type of Orbiana. I've had this one for 40 years.
ex Malter auction XXVIII, Dec. 8, 1984. lot 118. 
 

[Anaximander]

Wonderful post, @Roman Collector.

I had a marriage issue coin of Orbiana that I was recently able to upgrade. 

The old...
     

Roman Empire. Orbiana, w. Severus Alexander. 225-227 AD. AR Denarius (2.39 gm, 18.5mm, 6h) Rome, 225 AD. Marriage issue. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing stephane, SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG. / Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia, CONCORDIA AVGG. aVF. CNG EA 257 #434. Porous surfaces. RIC IV.2 #319 (Severus Alexander); BMCRE (same) 287-290; RSC III #1; SRCV II #8191. Porous.

My upgrade... 

   

Roman Empire. Orbiana, wife of Severus Alexander. 225-227 AD. AR Denarius (2.51ᵍᵐ 19.7ᵐᵐ 6ʰ) Rome, 225 AD. Marriage issue. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing stephane, SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG. / Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia, CONCORDIA AVGG. EF. Bt. Herakles Numismatics, 2021. NGC 1945815-004 (de-slabbed). RIC IV.2 #319 (Severus Alexander); BMCRE (same) 287-290; RSC III #1; SRCV II #8191. 

 

Orbiana didn't have a better time of it than Julia Paula, first wife of Elagabalus, the same Elagabalus who was overthrown in favor of Severus Alexander in yet another palace coup. She did not get a confronted bust pentassarion from Marcianopolis, like Gordian III and Tranquillina (238-244); Julia Mamea got those honors. 

 

[akeady]

We've all got the same Orbiana Concordia denarius, it seems!

Ruler:	Orbiana (Augusta)
Coin:	Silver Denarius SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG - Diademed draped bust right CONCORDIA AVGG - Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera and double cornucopiae
Mint:	Rome
Wt./Size/Axis:	2.80g / 19mm / 0h
References:	RIC 319 (Severus Alexander) RSC 1 BMC 287-290
Acquisition:	Mayor 25 Madrid 9-Oct-2010

ATB,
Aidan.

[DonnaML]

Some great coins. I have only a mediocre example of the same denarius that everyone else seems to have. Although I should take a new photo one of these days, since it actually looks a bit better than this in hand.

Sallustia Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) AR Denarius 225-227 AD. Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane/  Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae. RIC IV-2 319 (Sev. Alexander); RSC III 1, BMCRE 287 (Sev. Alexander). 19 mm., 3.5 g. 

 

[Julius Germanicus]

Just to add some variety, there is a bronze medallion of Orbiana featuring a left facing bust in the Paris cabinet (here a scan from Banti´s "I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali"):

Edited November 6, 2024 by Julius Germanicus

[Julius Germanicus]

Not mine, but in the British Museum: a super rare AUREUS of Orbiana

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Julius Germanicus