Both sides of an irregularly shaped greenish bronze coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a man facing right, clean shaven with short, cropped hair, with a laurel wreath on top of head; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: I M P / S E V / A L E - X A N D E R / A V G. The other side of the coin depicts an extremely worn woman standing facing left, draped in loose fitting clothing, holding wheat ears in right hand over a cylindrical headdress, and an anchor to the left; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: A N N O N IA - A V - G V S T I / S C.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2008.115.278
People
Severus Alexander, Roman (r. 222 - 235 CE)
Title
Sestertius of Severus Alexander, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
231 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period, Middle
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/185870

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Metal
AE
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
24.76 g
Die Axis
12
Denomination
sestertius
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: IMP SEV ALE-XANDER AVG
  • Reverse Inscription: ANNONIA-AV-GVSTI / S C

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
BMC 678 p. 181; RIC IV(B) 549, p. 114

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, Department of the Classics, Harvard University
Accession Year
2008
Object Number
2008.115.278
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Laureate bust of Severus Alexander to r. with slight drapery on l. shoulder.
Rev.: Annona draped, standing facing l., holding wheat ears in r. hand over modius, and an anchor in l.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu