Aquilia Severa AR Denarius – CONCORDIA

Roman Imperial Coin – Silver Denarius of Aquilia Severa

Obv: IVLIA AQILIA SEVERA AVG, draped bust right.

Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing left by altar, holding patera and double cornucopiae; star in left field.

220 – 222 AD. · Rome Mint · RIC 225

3.1g · 18mm

Severa was a Vestal Virgin and, as such, her marriage to Elagabalus in late 220 was the cause of enormous controversy – traditionally, the punishment for breaking the thirty-year vow of celibacy was death by being buried alive. Elagabalus is believed to have had religious reasons for marrying Severa – he himself was a follower of the eastern sun god El-Gabal, and when marrying himself to Severa, he also conducted a symbolic marriage of his god to Vesta.