# Denarius (Coin) Portraying Julia Mamaea

- By: Ancient Roman (in present-day Turkey)
- Date: 231-235, issued by Severus Alexander
- Medium: Silver
- Classification: Coin
- Dimensions: Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
- Culture: Rome
- Credit line: Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5681)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/a549e970-912a-a71f-6ab5-a10ff5f7324c/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

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.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0