The Severan Dynasty – a Roman soap opera… Following a major acquisition from Europe, Downies is delighted to present this variety of genuine, original Ancient Roman silver portrait coins from one of the empire’s most intriguing, notorious ruling families – known as the Severan Dynasty. The dynasty was established in 193AD by the wise emperor, Septimius Severus and his wife, Julia Domna, with power then passing to the paranoid, brutal Caracalla. Caracalla, who in 211AD murdered his brother and 20,000 of his supporters to claim sole power, was himself assassinated by one of his own soldiers, in 217AD, and following a one-year usurpation, Elagabalus became emperor.
A sun-worshipping transvestite, Elagabalus lasted four years, before murdered and overthrown in favour of his cousin, Severus Alexander. The last SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS 193-211AD A$8995 Severan Emperor, SILVER DENARIUS AE525 Alexander suffered the same fate, with his death in 335AD signifying a period of chaos for the Empire. Whilst you can read in history books about these extraordinary personalities, and A$ JULIA DOMNA SILVER 8995 the amazing tales DENARIUS AF983 of betrayal, murder and general excess that surrounded the Severans, the chance to hold genuine Silver Denarius coins from five different members of this powerful dynasty should not be A$ CARACALLA 211-17AD missed. Buy all five 8995 SILVER DENARIUS AE524 and SAVE A$50!
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ELAGABALUS 218-22AD SILVER DENARIUS
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ALEXANDER SEVERUS 222-35AD SILVER DENARIUS
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SILVER DENARII SET (5 coins) KC832
A noble father – a most unworthy son… The Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80AD) was a careful, generous and conscientious ruler. His son, the Emperor Commodus (177-92AD) was brutal, paranoid and insane. Although his reign was undermined by uprisings, and by outbreaks of plague, Aurelius personified the virtues that had made the Empire so
great. Commodus personified the vices that would lead to its ruin. Believing he was Hercules’ reincarnation and demanding to be worshipped as a god, Commodus shocked Rome by fighting as a gladiator and renaming the months of the year – and even the city itself! – in his own honour! Increasingly insane, and following cruel and violent reprisals after
several assassination attempts, Commodus created a bloodthirsty atmosphere in which no one was secure. Poisoned and strangled, the emperor was killed on the last day of 192AD. Genuine artefacts from this shocking period of Roman history, we have authentic 1,800-year-old Silver Denarii of both the noble father and his most unworthy son in stock.
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MARCUS AURELIUS 161-80AD SILVER DENARIUS
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COMMODUS 177-92AD SILVER DENARIUS
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A new kind of Emperor… Vespasian was a new kind of emperor – one with a vast experience of life on the frontiers of Rome’s immense empire. Serving all over the Empire before he became the FOURTH emperor to rule Rome in the year 69AD, Vespasian shot to prominence through his role in the Emperor Claudius’ conquest of Britain in 43-47AD. Having survived working for emperors such as Caligula
and Nero, Vespasian was subduing the Jewish Revolt – an event celebrated by the Judaea Capta Denarius offered here – when news arrived of the turmoil in Rome following Nero’s suicide. Leaving his son Titus to finish the job in Judaea, Vespasian took advantage of the uncertain situation, and was proclaimed Emperor after defeating the pretender Vitellius. Vespasian ruled wisely
for 10 years – both restocking the treasury and bringing a period of stability to the empire – and he is remembered as ‘one of the good emperors of Rome’. Well over 1,900-yearsold, these genuine, original Vespasian Silver Denarii give you the chance to hold real Ancient history within your hand – at a surprisingly affordable price.
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VESPASIAN 69-79AD SILVER DENARIUS
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One of the most famous Roman types, and the cornerstone of many an Ancient coin collection, the Judaea Capta celebrated Rome’s subjugation of the First Jewish Revolt in 70AD
VESPASIAN 69-79AD JUDAEA CAPTA SILVER DENARIUS
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