Obverse: Laureate head of Severus Alexander, facing right.
Reverse: Annona (goddess of the grain supply) standing left, holding grain ears and a cornucopia.
- Composition: Silver
- Denomination: Denarius
- Date: 222-235 A.D.
- NGC CERTIFIED: 6831003-001
Severus Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He was the heir to his cousin Elagabalus, the eighteen-year-old emperor. Both were grandsons of the influential and powerful Julia Maesa, who had previously arranged for Elagabalus to be proclaimed emperor by the famous Third Gallic Legion. Alexander's grandmother, Julia Maesa, believed that Alexander had more potential to rule and gain the support of the Praetorian Guard than her other grandson, who had become increasingly unpopular. She had Elagabalus adopt the young Alexander and then arranged for Elagabalus's assassination, securing the throne for Alexander. Severus Alexander became emperor around the age of 14, making him the youngest Roman emperor until Gordian III. As emperor, he attempted to bring peace through diplomacy and bribery. This alienated him from many in the Roman military and led to a conspiracy to assassinate and replace him. Alexander was killed along with his mother in a mutiny during a meeting with his generals in March 235. He is remembered as an "earnest, well-meaning, and conscientious" emperor, but his fatal flaw was the dominant influence of his grandmother Julia Maesa and his mother Julia Mamaea.
