Sestertius (?) Severina
SEVERINA. Æ Sestertius. Rome, 6th officina, 11th emission, 275 AD.
Obv. SEVERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust of Severina right
Rev. IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock before In exergue, officina mark = Ζ
RIC 7; Cohen 9
Scarce.
Traditionally these coins have been described as asses because their appearance is similar to the last true asses struck during under Valerian and Gallienus, and are made of copper, however most recent scholarship identifies them as reduced sestertii since inflation had rendered the as an irrelevant denomination, yet the sestertius still remained as the acknowledged unit of accounting. A monetary reform was carried out in 274 AD, introducing new bronze coinage, with sestertii bearing a laureated portrait of Aurelian and bust without crescent of Severina, and double sestertii (obverse bearing radiate portrait of Aurelian, reverse bearing portrait on moon crescent of Severina).[after NAC]
Yellow-green patina.
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