Modern pendant with Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) denarius

Modern pendant with Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) denarius
ITEM: Modern pendant with Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) denarius
MATERIAL: Silver
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 32 mm x 25 mm
CONDITION: Good condition. Original coin within a modern handmade circular silver setting.
PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired in the 1990s (Coin)

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Julia Mamaea (c. 180–235 CE) was a Roman empress and the mother of Emperor Severus Alexander, who ruled from 222 to 235 CE. She was born into the Severan dynasty, the daughter of Julia Avita Mamaea, a noblewoman of high rank. Julia Mamaea was married to Maximinus Thrax, and after his death, her son Alexander succeeded him to the throne at a very young age. Throughout her son’s reign, Julia Mamaea played an influential role as regent, guiding his decisions and exerting considerable power in the imperial court. Her political acumen and ability to navigate the complexities of Roman imperial power dynamics marked her as one of the most prominent women in Roman history.

As regent, Julia Mamaea was recognized for her strong leadership and determination to stabilize the empire after the tumultuous reign of Carus and his successor. She surrounded herself with experienced advisors and ensured that her son’s reign was marked by peace, in contrast to the military instability of previous emperors. Her influence in administrative and military decisions was significant, and she worked to maintain the favor of both the Senate and the army. Julia Mamaea also sought to restore traditional Roman values, reviving the importance of education and philosophical ideals, often promoting intellectuals and philosophers in the imperial court, and making efforts to reform the administration to reduce corruption.

Despite her efforts to strengthen and stabilize the empire, Julia Mamaea's reign was not without challenges. Her reign was ultimately cut short in 235 CE, when her son, Severus Alexander, was assassinated by his own soldiers, likely due to dissatisfaction with his leadership and the growing tension between the army and the imperial court. Julia Mamaea, too, was killed in the chaos that followed. Her death marked the end of the Severan dynasty and ushered in a period of political instability. Although her rule as regent was relatively short, Julia Mamaea is remembered as a capable and influential empress who played a crucial role in maintaining the unity and governance of the Roman Empire during her son's reign.

Measurement:

2.5 x 3.2 cm