Silver Denarius of Julia Domna (about 1,800 years ago)

$153.00 $180.00

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This silver denarius features Julia Domna, the influential Syrian-born empress who was wife to Emperor Septimius Severus and mother to Emperors Caracalla and Geta. Minted between 193-217 CE, this coin represents the important role imperial women played in Roman politics and propaganda during the Severan dynasty. Julia Domna was not just a ceremonial figure but a significant intellectual and political force in the empire.

Coin Description:

Front side: The obverse depicts the draped bust of Julia Domna facing right, typically showing her with distinctive hairstyle arranged in waves and pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. The surrounding Latin inscription would state her name and titles.
Back side: Though not specified, the reverse would typically show a Roman goddess (often Venus, Juno, Ceres, or Diana), personification of a virtue like Pietas (devotion) or Pudicitia (modesty), or other imagery emphasizing female virtues and the empress's roles.

Technical Details:

Silver composition (AR)
Denarius denomination (standard silver coin of the Roman monetary system)
Weight: Approximately 3-3.5 grams
Size: Approximately 18-20mm in diameter
NGC Grade: XF (Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Date of minting: 193-217 CE (spanning her time as empress and mother of emperors)
Collection: SPQR Collection (a notable modern collection of Roman coins)

Historical Significance: This denarius represents an important woman in Roman imperial history. Born in Emesa (modern Homs, Syria) to a hereditary priest-king family, Julia Domna brought eastern cultural influences into the heart of Roman power through her marriage to Septimius Severus. She was celebrated for her intellect, surrounding herself with philosophers and intellectuals in what ancient sources called her "circle." After her husband's death in 211 CE, Julia attempted to mediate between her sons Caracalla and Geta, whose rivalry ended with Geta's murder. She continued as an influential figure during Caracalla's reign until her death around 217 CE, possibly by suicide following her son's assassination. Coins featuring imperial women provided important visibility to the feminine aspect of imperial power and legitimacy. The exceptional grade of this coin from the SPQR Collection allows us to see clearly how Roman imperial propaganda presented Julia Domna as embodying ideal feminine virtues while wielding considerable behind-the-scenes influence during a pivotal period in Roman history.

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Coin Description:

Front side: The obverse depicts the draped bust of Julia Domna facing right, typically showing her with distinctive hairstyle arranged in waves and pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. The surrounding Latin inscription would state her name and titles.
Back side: Though not specified, the reverse would typically show a Roman goddess (often Venus, Juno, Ceres, or Diana), personification of a virtue like Pietas (devotion) or Pudicitia (modesty), or other imagery emphasizing female virtues and the empress's roles.

Technical Details:

Silver composition (AR)
Denarius denomination (standard silver coin of the Roman monetary system)
Weight: Approximately 3-3.5 grams
Size: Approximately 18-20mm in diameter
NGC Grade: XF (Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Date of minting: 193-217 CE (spanning her time as empress and mother of emperors)
Collection: SPQR Collection (a notable modern collection of Roman coins)

Coin Description:

Front side: The obverse depicts the draped bust of Julia Domna facing right, typically showing her with distinctive hairstyle arranged in waves and pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. The surrounding Latin inscription would state her name and titles.
Back side: Though not specified, the reverse would typically show a Roman goddess (often Venus, Juno, Ceres, or Diana), personification of a virtue like Pietas (devotion) or Pudicitia (modesty), or other imagery emphasizing female virtues and the empress's roles.

Technical Details:

Silver composition (AR)
Denarius denomination (standard silver coin of the Roman monetary system)
Weight: Approximately 3-3.5 grams
Size: Approximately 18-20mm in diameter
NGC Grade: XF (Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Date of minting: 193-217 CE (spanning her time as empress and mother of emperors)
Collection: SPQR Collection (a notable modern collection of Roman coins)

Julia Domna (Latin: [ˈjuːli.a ˈdomna]; c. 160 – 217 AD) was Roman empress from 193 to 211 as the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. She was the first empress of the Severan dynasty. Domna was born in Emesa (present-day Homs) in Roman Syria to an Arab family^[2] of priests of the deity Elagabalus. In 187, she married Severus, who at the time was governor of the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. They had two sons, Caracalla and Geta. A civil war over the Roman throne broke out in 193, and shortly afterwards Severus declared himself emperor. The war ended in 197 with the defeat of the last of Severus's opponents.

As empress, Domna was famous for her political, social, and philosophical influence. She received titles such as "Mother of the Invincible Camps".^[a] After the elder of her sons, Caracalla, started ruling with his father, she was briefly co-empress with Caracalla's wife, Fulvia Plautilla, until the latter fell into disgrace.^[4] Following the death of Severus in 211, Domna became the first empress dowager to receive the title combination "Pia Felix Augusta", which may have implied greater powers being vested in her than what was usual for a Roman empress mother.^[5] Her sons jointly inherited the throne, and she acted as mediator in the conflicts that arose between them. Caracalla had Geta killed later that year.