Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Julian II (about 1,660-1,665 years ago)
Julia Maesa Silver Antoninianus
Roman Silver Coin of Empress Julia Maesa (about 1,800-1,810 years ago)
This silver-washed antoninianus depicts Julia Maesa, one of the most powerful women in Roman history who effectively controlled the empire through her grandsons during the later Severan dynasty. As sister to the influential Empress Julia Domna and grandmother to two emperors, Julia Maesa deployed her political acumen and family connections to maintain her family's hold on imperial power during a period of increasing instability in the early 3rd century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julia Maesa facing right, typically shown with a dignified, mature appearance and distinctive hairstyle draped in a crescent, with Latin inscription giving her name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts a female deity such as Pudicitia (Modesty), Pietas (Piety), or Juno, reflecting traditional Roman feminine virtues, with accompanying Latin text
Technical Details:
Silver-washed bronze composition (antoniniani of this period contained minimal silver)
Denomination: Antoninianus (valued at two denarii)
NGC certified in protective slab
Minted between approximately 218-224 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julia Maesa stands as one of antiquity's most influential female power brokers. After Emperor Caracalla's assassination in 217 AD left her family out of power, she orchestrated an extraordinary comeback by convincing troops that her teenage grandson Elagabalus was Caracalla's illegitimate son. When Elagabalus proved unstable with his controversial religious practices and scandalous behavior, Julia Maesa pragmatically arranged his elimination in 222 AD, smoothly transferring power to her other, more conventional grandson Alexander Severus. Her political maneuvering kept her family in power and herself as the empire's de facto ruler until her death around 224 AD, after which she received the ultimate honor of deification—a testament to her remarkable influence in a society where women held no formal political authority.
Roman AE Of Julian II (As Caesar) (AD 361-363)
Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Julian II (about 1,660-1,665 years ago)
This bronze coin was issued during the brief reign of Julian II, known to history as "Julian the Apostate," the last non-Christian emperor of Rome. A philosophical ruler whose rejection of Christianity in favor of traditional Roman religious practices earned him his pejorative nickname from Christian writers, Julian represents a fascinating counter-current to the Christianization of the late Roman Empire during the 4th century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julian II facing right, typically bearded (unusual for the period but reflecting his philosophical leanings), with Latin inscription giving his name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts traditional Roman religious imagery, military symbols, or personifications that aligned with Julian's Neo-Platonic and pagan beliefs
Technical Details:
Bronze composition
Denomination: AE3 or similar late Roman bronze denomination
NGC certified
Minted between 361-363 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julian II was the last pagan emperor of Rome, whose brief reign represented the final attempt to reverse the Christianization of the empire initiated by his uncle Constantine the Great. Raised Christian but secretly converting to traditional Roman religion, Julian implemented religious tolerance policies upon becoming emperor that favored paganism. A highly educated philosopher-emperor in the tradition of Marcus Aurelius, Julian wrote extensive philosophical works still studied today. His religious policies and military campaign against Persia (modern Iran) were cut short by his death in battle in 363 AD after just 18 months as emperor, permanently ending attempts to restore traditional Roman religion as the empire's official faith.
Julia Maesa Silver Antoninianus
Roman Silver Coin of Empress Julia Maesa (about 1,800-1,810 years ago)
This silver-washed antoninianus depicts Julia Maesa, one of the most powerful women in Roman history who effectively controlled the empire through her grandsons during the later Severan dynasty. As sister to the influential Empress Julia Domna and grandmother to two emperors, Julia Maesa deployed her political acumen and family connections to maintain her family's hold on imperial power during a period of increasing instability in the early 3rd century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julia Maesa facing right, typically shown with a dignified, mature appearance and distinctive hairstyle draped in a crescent, with Latin inscription giving her name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts a female deity such as Pudicitia (Modesty), Pietas (Piety), or Juno, reflecting traditional Roman feminine virtues, with accompanying Latin text
Technical Details:
Silver-washed bronze composition (antoniniani of this period contained minimal silver)
Denomination: Antoninianus (valued at two denarii)
NGC certified in protective slab
Minted between approximately 218-224 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julia Maesa stands as one of antiquity's most influential female power brokers. After Emperor Caracalla's assassination in 217 AD left her family out of power, she orchestrated an extraordinary comeback by convincing troops that her teenage grandson Elagabalus was Caracalla's illegitimate son. When Elagabalus proved unstable with his controversial religious practices and scandalous behavior, Julia Maesa pragmatically arranged his elimination in 222 AD, smoothly transferring power to her other, more conventional grandson Alexander Severus. Her political maneuvering kept her family in power and herself as the empire's de facto ruler until her death around 224 AD, after which she received the ultimate honor of deification—a testament to her remarkable influence in a society where women held no formal political authority.
Roman AE Of Julian II (As Caesar) (AD 361-363)
Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Julian II (about 1,660-1,665 years ago)
This bronze coin was issued during the brief reign of Julian II, known to history as "Julian the Apostate," the last non-Christian emperor of Rome. A philosophical ruler whose rejection of Christianity in favor of traditional Roman religious practices earned him his pejorative nickname from Christian writers, Julian represents a fascinating counter-current to the Christianization of the late Roman Empire during the 4th century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julian II facing right, typically bearded (unusual for the period but reflecting his philosophical leanings), with Latin inscription giving his name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts traditional Roman religious imagery, military symbols, or personifications that aligned with Julian's Neo-Platonic and pagan beliefs
Technical Details:
Bronze composition
Denomination: AE3 or similar late Roman bronze denomination
NGC certified
Minted between 361-363 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julian II was the last pagan emperor of Rome, whose brief reign represented the final attempt to reverse the Christianization of the empire initiated by his uncle Constantine the Great. Raised Christian but secretly converting to traditional Roman religion, Julian implemented religious tolerance policies upon becoming emperor that favored paganism. A highly educated philosopher-emperor in the tradition of Marcus Aurelius, Julian wrote extensive philosophical works still studied today. His religious policies and military campaign against Persia (modern Iran) were cut short by his death in battle in 363 AD after just 18 months as emperor, permanently ending attempts to restore traditional Roman religion as the empire's official faith.
Julia Maesa Silver Antoninianus
Roman Silver Coin of Empress Julia Maesa (about 1,800-1,810 years ago)
This silver-washed antoninianus depicts Julia Maesa, one of the most powerful women in Roman history who effectively controlled the empire through her grandsons during the later Severan dynasty. As sister to the influential Empress Julia Domna and grandmother to two emperors, Julia Maesa deployed her political acumen and family connections to maintain her family's hold on imperial power during a period of increasing instability in the early 3rd century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julia Maesa facing right, typically shown with a dignified, mature appearance and distinctive hairstyle draped in a crescent, with Latin inscription giving her name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts a female deity such as Pudicitia (Modesty), Pietas (Piety), or Juno, reflecting traditional Roman feminine virtues, with accompanying Latin text
Technical Details:
Silver-washed bronze composition (antoniniani of this period contained minimal silver)
Denomination: Antoninianus (valued at two denarii)
NGC certified in protective slab
Minted between approximately 218-224 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julia Maesa stands as one of antiquity's most influential female power brokers. After Emperor Caracalla's assassination in 217 AD left her family out of power, she orchestrated an extraordinary comeback by convincing troops that her teenage grandson Elagabalus was Caracalla's illegitimate son. When Elagabalus proved unstable with his controversial religious practices and scandalous behavior, Julia Maesa pragmatically arranged his elimination in 222 AD, smoothly transferring power to her other, more conventional grandson Alexander Severus. Her political maneuvering kept her family in power and herself as the empire's de facto ruler until her death around 224 AD, after which she received the ultimate honor of deification—a testament to her remarkable influence in a society where women held no formal political authority.
Roman AE Of Julian II (As Caesar) (AD 361-363)
Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Julian II (about 1,660-1,665 years ago)
This bronze coin was issued during the brief reign of Julian II, known to history as "Julian the Apostate," the last non-Christian emperor of Rome. A philosophical ruler whose rejection of Christianity in favor of traditional Roman religious practices earned him his pejorative nickname from Christian writers, Julian represents a fascinating counter-current to the Christianization of the late Roman Empire during the 4th century.
Coin Description:
Front side: Portrait of Julian II facing right, typically bearded (unusual for the period but reflecting his philosophical leanings), with Latin inscription giving his name and titles
Back side: Likely depicts traditional Roman religious imagery, military symbols, or personifications that aligned with Julian's Neo-Platonic and pagan beliefs
Technical Details:
Bronze composition
Denomination: AE3 or similar late Roman bronze denomination
NGC certified
Minted between 361-363 AD
Condition as certified by NGC
Historical Significance: Julian II was the last pagan emperor of Rome, whose brief reign represented the final attempt to reverse the Christianization of the empire initiated by his uncle Constantine the Great. Raised Christian but secretly converting to traditional Roman religion, Julian implemented religious tolerance policies upon becoming emperor that favored paganism. A highly educated philosopher-emperor in the tradition of Marcus Aurelius, Julian wrote extensive philosophical works still studied today. His religious policies and military campaign against Persia (modern Iran) were cut short by his death in battle in 363 AD after just 18 months as emperor, permanently ending attempts to restore traditional Roman religion as the empire's official faith.
