Denarius (Coin) Portraying Julia Mamaea

Ancient Roman (in present-day Turkey)

231-235, issued by Severus Alexander

Medium: Silver
Classification: Coin
Dimensions: Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Culture: Rome
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Credit line: Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
Rights: Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it: Teens profiles and older: its subject is for older viewers (war, death, the Passion, drink or the like). How works are placed

About this work

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.