Art Institute of Chicago

Denarius (Coin) Portraying Julia Mamaea

Roman, minted in Antioch (in present-day Turkey)

Date

231-235, issued by Severus Alexander

Medium

Silver

Culture

Rome

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the bust of Julia Mamaea, the mother of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus, facing to the right, draped, and diademed. On the back (reverse), the goddess Venus stands front, head left, helmet in right hand, spear in left, shield resting against her leg. Coins recorded the ever-changing hairdos of the royal ladies in Rome and carried the new fashions to the far corners of the empire.

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