Does it get any better? Perhaps the best known Denarius of Severus Alexander

[Helvius Pertinax]

Today I come to you all with a question (or a challenge) but also a really visually appealing coin to post! Recently, I got a fantastic deal on a group lot. Roman Denarii, not my current focus area, but I couldn't pass up at 97€ a piece for a very high end selection that the auction house luckily didn't take pictures of.

 

Among these, an absolute stunner of a coin. Way better than my previous Severus Alexander, heck, the obverse is better than any Denarius of him that I have ever seen!

 

 

Only Aureii can compare in style. I've asked myself if this is perhaps the best Denarius obverse known of Severus Alexander? I have so far been unable to find a better one.

 

 

Is there a bit of delusion in this argument from my side? Perhaps. Well, to find out I am making this post. Please share your opinion as well as other great coins, or your own examples of Romes second youngest emperor!

[CPK]

You have a winner there, @Helvius Pertinax! What a lovely specimen: beautifully struck from fresh dies, very fine portrait style, and a very solid 3.9 grams! That's what I like to see! 🤩

My own Severus Alexander denarius is pretty nice too, and about the same weight, but I like the portrait style on yours better.

SEVERUS ALEXANDER, AD 222-235
AR Denarius (20.28mm, 3.95g, 6h)
Struck AD 233. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander right
Reverse: P M TR P XII COS III P P, Sol, radiate with cloak over left shoulder, advancing left, holding whip in left hand and raising right hand
References: RIC IV 120, RCV 7915
A superb specimen, with lovely old cabinet toning, sharply struck on a broad and heavy flan.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

A delightful coin and a spectacular addition to your collection.

[expat]

I thought my latest Severus Alexander was great looking until you posted that @Helvius Pertinax what a fantastic coin.

SEVERUS ALEXANDER.
Denarius.
231 AD.
Rome mint.
Obv/ IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev/ P M TR P X COS III P P, Sol, radiate, standing left, nude except for cloak over left shoulder, holding globe and raising right hand in salute.
Cat: RIC 109D; RSC 411
Silver (Ar) 3,3g - 21mm

[Kali]

Fantastic example. A little over weight too, which is not often seen with his coins.

 

Severus Alexander (222 - 235 A.D.)

AR Denarius
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: PM TR P XIIII COS III PP, Sol walking left holding whip and raising hand.
Rome Mint, January–February/March, 235 A.D.
2.8g
19mm
RIC125

Rare

This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue.

[Helvius Pertinax]

4 hours ago, CPK said:

You have a winner there, @Helvius Pertinax! What a lovely specimen: beautifully struck from fresh dies, very fine portrait style, and a very solid 3.9 grams! That's what I like to see! 🤩

My own Severus Alexander denarius is pretty nice too, and about the same weight, but I like the portrait style on yours better.

SEVERUS ALEXANDER, AD 222-235
AR Denarius (20.28mm, 3.95g, 6h)
Struck AD 233. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander right
Reverse: P M TR P XII COS III P P, Sol, radiate with cloak over left shoulder, advancing left, holding whip in left hand and raising right hand
References: RIC IV 120, RCV 7915
A superb specimen, with lovely old cabinet toning, sharply struck on a broad and heavy flan.

So is yours! Very well centered, on good metal and just as heavy if not more. And I like the attributions you do, great detail, I'd love to see that more often sometimes! Though I am myself guilty of not always including them in my posts.

I like the Sol reverse, wonderfully manufactured! Can't go wrong with Sol, that radiate crown is super cute

[Helvius Pertinax]

2 hours ago, expat said:

I thought my latest Severus Alexander was great looking until you posted that @Helvius Pertinax what a fantastic coin.

SEVERUS ALEXANDER.
Denarius.
231 AD.
Rome mint.
Obv/ IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev/ P M TR P X COS III P P, Sol, radiate, standing left, nude except for cloak over left shoulder, holding globe and raising right hand in salute.
Cat: RIC 109D; RSC 411
Silver (Ar) 3,3g - 21mm

It still is, a very crisp specimen!

[Helvius Pertinax]

1 hour ago, Kali said:

Fantastic example. A little over weight too, which is not often seen with his coins.

 

Severus Alexander (222 - 235 A.D.)

AR Denarius
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: PM TR P XIIII COS III PP, Sol walking left holding whip and raising hand.
Rome Mint, January–February/March, 235 A.D.
2.8g
19mm
RIC125

Rare

This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue.

Oh, I was not aware that there are coins of him so closely dateable! Neither was I aware that mine is so overweight. Great piece 😃

[mc9]

Exellent coin !

Here is my best  and only portret for Severus Alexander :

SEVERUS ALEXANDER
Obv : IMP C M AVR SEV - ALEXANDER AVG ; laureated and drapped bearded bust right
Rev : P M TR P V - COS II P P ; Emperor stganding left sacrificing over tripot and holding a scroll
DENARIUS ;  ROME mint ; AD 224 – 227 ; RIC 4b nr 55 ; 2,16 gr ; 19,31 mm

 

 

Edited November 30, 2024 by mc9

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Beautiful! You should post it in the “Best of type” thread: 

 

[Curtisimo]

Really great portrait of Severus Alexander. Here is mine.

Roman Empire
Severus Alexander 
AR Denarius, Rome Mint, struck ca. AD 228-231
Dia: 18.84 mm
Wt: 3.2 g
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right. 
Rev: PERPETVITATI AVG, Perpetuitas (or Securitas) standing left, globe in right and scepter in left, leaning on column.
Ref: RIC IV Severus Alexander 208
Ex Severus Alexander Collection, Frühwald E-Auction 150, lot 359 (April 2, 2022)

[JAZ Numismatics]

SA's denarii tend to be very well struck, but yours is indeed exceptional.

[Roman Collector]

That's a gorgeous example!! Heavy one, too! Here's one from my numophylacium.

Severus Alexander, 222-235 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 2.95 g, 19.4 mm, 1 h.
Rome, issue 12, 231 CE.
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head, right, with drapery on left shoulder.
Rev: ANNONA AVG, Annona standing left, holding corn-ears in right hand over modius at feet and holding anchor in left hand.
Refs: RIC 188; BMCRE 674-76; RSC 29a; RCV 7859.

[Valentinian]

11 hours ago, Helvius Pertinax said:

Among these, an absolute stunner of a coin.

Agreed. The quality of Severus Alexander denarii is often high.



RIC 144 "C" "222-228". BMC 232 "AD 225". A young portrait.



RIC 250. BMC 814 "AD 231"



RIC v246. BMC 833 "AD 232"



RIC 254d. BMC 898. "AD 232". 

[Romismatist]

Great coin! Fantastic portrait and reverse!

[Qcumbor]

Beautiful OP coin, and some stunners all the way.

Here are two contenders :

Severus Alexander - Denarius - Rome mint, 225 CE 
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate head of Severus Alexander right
IOVI VLTORI, Jupiter seated left holding victory and spear
3.26 gr
Ref : RCV #7873 (75), Cohen #97

 

Severus Alexander, Denarius - Rome mint, 232 CE
IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate head right
PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding cornucopia and branch, modius at feet
3.67 gr
Ref : RIC # 250, Cohen # 501, RCV # 7922 (75)

Q

[Mucius Scaevola]

Very nice coin! Not sure about the best known, though. It's an emperor where you can find coins in mint state quite "often", compared to other emperors. That's why I don't have any of him, I still wait for the perfect one 😜

[Helvius Pertinax]

On 12/1/2024 at 8:01 PM, Qcumbor said:

Beautiful OP coin, and some stunners all the way.

Here are two contenders :

Severus Alexander - Denarius - Rome mint, 225 CE 
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate head of Severus Alexander right
IOVI VLTORI, Jupiter seated left holding victory and spear
3.26 gr
Ref : RCV #7873 (75), Cohen #97

 

Severus Alexander, Denarius - Rome mint, 232 CE
IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate head right
PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding cornucopia and branch, modius at feet
3.67 gr
Ref : RIC # 250, Cohen # 501, RCV # 7922 (75)

Q

And two damn nice ones!! Nicely engraved reverses and the early obverse also has lots of charm to it. Great style on the late one, too 😁 Congrats on owning these charms!

[Finn235]

Superb SA!

I have noticed that his coins in general are quite nice, but the IOVI PROPVGNATORI issue in particular tends to be excellent. This is one of my overall nicest Roman coins.

[Helvius Pertinax]

22 minutes ago, Finn235 said:

Superb SA!

I have noticed that his coins in general are quite nice, but the IOVI PROPVGNATORI issue in particular tends to be excellent. This is one of my overall nicest Roman coins.

Also a beauty of a coin!

[TheTrachyEnjoyer]

On 12/2/2024 at 8:56 AM, Mucius Scaevola said:

Very nice coin! Not sure about the best known, though. It's an emperor where you can find coins in mint state quite "often", compared to other emperors. That's why I don't have any of him, I still wait for the perfect one 😜

This is exactly what makes Alexander Severus fun for many collectors. He is readily available in very high grades.

🤔Im not sure I can agree with the title that the denarius posted is the finest known for Alexander Severus. That is quite the bold claim to make with an off center flan and worn reverse die (not to mention style). However, it is a nice coin. 

[Troyden]

That's definitely a great coin, OP! Of course, tastes differ, and many might debate which coin truly deserves the title of the greatest for that emperor.

I'll use the occasion to post my humble coin.

[Helvius Pertinax]

39 minutes ago, TheTrachyEnjoyer said:

This is exactly what makes Alexander Severus fun for many collectors. He is readily available in very high grades.

🤔Im not sure I can agree with the title that the denarius posted is the finest known for Alexander Severus. That is quite the bold claim to make with an off center flan and worn reverse die (not to mention style). However, it is a nice coin. 

For sure, the title is a stretch 😅 And the reverse - as you say - is far from the best. Good to see some other absolutely stunning SA's here, it's been a pleasant thread to go through!

 

On another note, I think there's still an argument to be made for the best obverse in Silver, or close. A subjective one, and one I'd have to do much more research on to back it up, but it's a fun thought!

[Helvius Pertinax]

6 minutes ago, Troyden said:

That's definitely a great coin, OP! Of course, tastes differ, and many might debate which coin truly deserves the title of the greatest for that emperor.

I'll use the occasion to post my humble coin.

For sure! Others have brought out absolute stunners in this thread. So do you - fabulous centering! Spes is a great reverse, onnof my favourites of his.

[TheTrachyEnjoyer]

4 minutes ago, Helvius Pertinax said:

For sure, the title is a stretch 😅 And the reverse - as you say - is far from the best. Good to see some other absolutely stunning SA's here, it's been a pleasant thread to go through!

 

On another note, I think there's still an argument to be made for the best obverse in Silver, or close. A subjective one, and one I'd have to do much more research on to back it up, but it's a fun thought!

the obverse is quite nice indeed!