Severus Alexander           222 - 235 A.D.  

Severus Alexander was a beloved cousin of Elagabalus and who was named Caesar while Elagabalus was still emperor. As his popularity grew, Elagabalus recognized in him the growing menace of a future rival and sought to oust him. But this only served to infuriate the army which by now had taken the young Caesar under its wings. Rather than let Elagabalus depose Alexander by civil or violent means they instead mutinied and murdered the emperor clearing the way for Alexander's accession. Alexander went on to rule for thirteen years of relative peace. Not since the time of Marcus Aurelius did Romans enjoy a monarch whose ambitions were for their welfare and the pursuit of the arts. His one singular weakness, which eventually proved to be fatal, was his absolute reverence for his untactful mother. Like no other woman until then, Julia Mamaea styled herself an empress in every sense of the word and the unapologetic exercise of her rule and the incessant meddling in the affairs of state was a constant embarrassment and irritation to the prevailing sensibilities of the army, the Senate and the rest of the Roman citizenry. Hushed whispers grew over time to outspoken protestations to, eventually, open mutiny. The mild-mannered Alexander was either unable or unwilling to rectify the situation by removing his mother from the political limelight and, thus, both were corralled in a mutiny and massacred.

AR Denarius 222--235 A.D. Rome 222 A.D. 20 mm. Obv. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG: Laureate and draped bust right Rev. SALVS PVBLICA: Salus seated left,using a patera to feed a snake rising from an altar C. 532, Van Meter 57	AE Sestertius 222--235 A.D. 31 mm. Obv. IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG: Laureate head right Rev. PAX AVGVSTI S C: Pax advancing left, hoding branch and scepter BMC 368, C. 189, Van Meter 73	AE Sestertius 222--235 A.D. 29 mm. 222--228 A.D. Obv. IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG: Laureate and draped bust right Rev. PM TR P V COS II PP S C: Mars walking right, carrying spear and trophy RIC 440	AE Sestertius 222--235 A.D. 28 mm. ca. 230 A.D. Obv. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG: Laureate and draped bust right Rev. PM TR P VIII COS III PP S C: Sol standing left, holding a globe RIC IV 503
AE Sestertius 222--235 A.D. 29 mm. Obv. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG: Laureate and draped bust right Rev. SPES PVBLICA S C: Spes walking left, raising the hem of her skirt and bearing a flower RIC 648, C. 547, Van Meter 89