Severina, Wife of Aurelian, Augusta, BI Antoninianus, Antioch Mint, 275 AD – Aurelian and Severina – RR

$120.00

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SKU: R6.11 Categories: ,

Description

Roman Imperial, Severina, Wife of Aurelian, Augusta, 270-275 AD, BI Antoninianus (billon, 3.94g, 23mm), Antioch Mint, 275 AD
Obv: SEVERINA P F AVG; diademed and draped bust right, set on a crescent
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG; Aurelian and Severina standing vis-à-vis, clenching hands; P under and XXI in exergue
Ref:  RIC V 19; BN 1357 Rarity/Choice: Scarce, Good VF (remains of light silvering)
Note: Severina was the wife of Roman Emperor Aurelian, reigning as Augusta from 270 to 275 AD. Little is known about her early life, but as empress, she played a significant role during Aurelian’s efforts to reunify the Roman Empire following the tumultuous Crisis of the Third Century. Severina’s tenure as Augusta coincided with Aurelian’s numerous military campaigns and administrative reforms aimed at restoring stability and order. The Antoninianus of Severina minted in Antioch serves as a notable artifact reflecting the themes of unity and divine favor during a critical period of the Roman Empire. The obverse, featuring Severina’s diademed and draped bust set on a crescent, highlights her esteemed status as Augusta. The reverse, showing the emperor and empress clasping hands, conveys the important message of harmony and cooperation between the imperial couple. This coin not only facilitated economic transactions but also served as a symbolic representation of the stability and unity promoted by Aurelian and Severina during their reign. It illustrates how coinage was used to reinforce the image of a harmonious and divinely favored imperial family, crucial for maintaining and legitimizing power in the Roman Empire during the late 3rd century.