Roman Empire AE Sestertius 222-235 AD SEVERUS ALEXANDER, 222-235 - Rome vf

weight 19,13gr. | bronze Ø 28mm.

obv. Laureate head of Severus right, light drapery on left shoulder,  
surrounded by the legend IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG
rev. Providentia (or Annona), draped, standing left, holding two corn-ears
in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand on ground, modius, S - C
across lower field, surrounded by the legend PROVIDENTIA AVG
In ancient Roman religion, Annona (or Providentia) is the divine personification of the grain supply to the city of Rome. She is closely connected to the goddess Ceres, with whom she is often depicted in art. Annona, often as Annona Augusti, was a creation of Imperial religious propaganda, manifested in iconography and cult practice. Annona is typically depicted with a cornucopia (horn of plenty) in her arm, and a ship′s prow in the background, alluding to the transport of grain into the harbor of Rome. On coins, she frequently stands between a modius (grain-measure) and the prow of a galley, with ears of grain in one hand and a cornucopia in the other sometimes she holds a rudder or an anchor. In the propaganda of Claudius, the cult of Ceres Augusta made explicit the divine power that lay in the Imperial provision of the annona, the grain supply to the city. Annona Augusti appears on coins late in the reign of Nero, when the Cult of Virtues came into prominence in the wake of the Pisonian conspiracy. She embodied two of the material benefits of Imperial rule, along with Securitas Augusti, ″Augustan Security,″ and often appeared as part of a pair with Ceres. On Neronian coinage, Ceres, Annona, and Abundantia (″Abundance″) were closely associated. Annona also appears on coins issued under Vespasian, where along with other Virtues she represents the restoration of confidence in the principate, and on the coinage of Titus, Domitianus, Trajanus, Hadrianus, Antoninus Pius, and Septimius Severus. She was a particular favorite in Trajanus′ propaganda, which sought to portray his reign as a renewal and a prosperous new era for humanity hence Annona often appears with a symbolic child. In the context of Trajanic politics, Annona represented Rome′s grain independence from its traditional supplier Egypt. This coin was minted in recognition of Severus′ prudent policy regarding the annual grain supply of the city of Rome. Severus Alexander was born in 208 in Phoenician Caesarea as Marcus Julius Gessius Alexianus. At the age of 14, he became Emperor of Rome, first under the regency of his grandmother Julia Maesa, and later under that of his mother Julia Mamaea. He was a capable and moderate administrator who favored negotiation over war. This attitude was ultimately not appreciated by his military staff, which led to the assassination of him and his mother in 235. This marked the beginning of a series of soldier-emperors, of whom his successor Maximinus I Thrax (235–238) was the first.

Cohen 501 | RIC 250 | BMC 875 | Sear 7922
attractive dark patina
vf

Please respect our order minimum of 20 Euros. FOR EU ONLY IBAN PAYMENTS ARE ACCEPTED. NO PAYPAL. NO CREDITCARDS. Shippings to China are on risk of the buyer and only payment by bankwire or WISE. Shipping will take place within 5 days after receipt of payment. Sendings to Russia,Ukraine and Israel are not possible. Additional administration- and risk costs for PayPal & creditcard payments. No PayPal or creditcardpayments possible for orders over 10.000 euro. 

Shipping