320, Lot: 513. Estimate $100. Sold for $160. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.13 g, 7h). Rome mint. 18th emission, January–February/March AD 235. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Sol, radiate, standing left, raising hand and holding whip. RIC IV 125 var. (without cuirass); BMCRE 962; RSC 453a. EF, lightly toned, few light marks and scratches. Very rare last issue of reign.

This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue. Alexander was assassinated by his soldiers while campaigning along the Rhine frontier. He is said to have been killed while cowering in the arms of his domineering mother, Julia Mamaea, who was also murdered. Although he is typically depicted on the coins as a military emperor with an idealized countenance, in reality he detested warfare, which was a major fault in the turbulent third century. Also, he was constantly under the dominance of other, more powerful personalities, particularly his mother. Eventually, Alexander’s weak leadership proved fatal, and he became one of many emperors murdered on campaign by his own soldiers.