Severus Alexander Denarius “virtvs Avg – Romulus” — Certificate Of Authenticity

A silver denarius of Severus Alexander, struck at Rome in AD 228, whose collecting interest lies in a particularly expressive Virtus iconography, showing the emperor in the guise of Romulus walking right, carrying a spear and a trophy—an emblematic combination precisely catalogued as RIC 224 / BMC 522 / Cohen 584, a typological concordance verified by the simultaneous agreement of legends and depicted attributes.

Careful observation under ×10 magnification and raking light: examination of the specimen highlights a regular-module silver flan, a well-ordered portrait relief (forehead, eye, nose, and chin line clearly structured), as well as a reverse scene that remains legible through its essential markers—forward stride, spear held in the right hand, trophy slung over the left shoulder—together with an even grey toning and fine circulation marks compatible with the normal history of a preserved imperial denarius, without detracting from overall readability or cabinet appeal.

Authority / period: Severus Alexander (AD 222–235).

Mint / date: Rome, 228.

Denomination / metal: Denarius, silver (AR).

Diameter / weight: 19 mm; 2.92 g (as stated).

Obverse (type and legend): IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right, Roman-style portrait consistent with early-reign issues.

Reverse (type and legend): VIRTVS AVG, Severus Alexander laureate, portrayed as Romulus, walking right, holding spear and trophy.

References: RIC 224; BMC 522; Cohen 584.

Surface condition (descriptive observations): fields showing an old micro-texture and light friction, with satisfactory preservation of the decisive reliefs (laurel wreath, profile, titulature, spear, and trophy), ensuring stable readability and a well-balanced numismatic presence.

The VIRTVS AVG reverse, by presenting the emperor “in the manner of Romulus,” belongs to a rhetoric of legitimation in which virtus is not merely a moral value, but a quality of command and foundation, intended to place the young prince under the sign of Roman origins and protective authority—a theme well attested for this Rome denarius type dated to 228.

In a classic format highly sought after by collectors of the Severan period, this denarius offers an immediately “narrative” scene—spear, trophy, forward stride—that powerfully documents the use of heroic iconography in Roman coinage, and serves as an excellent milestone for a collection devoted to personifications (Virtus), dynastic propaganda, or the foundational references of Rome mobilized by imperial power.

The provenance is European, from an established numismatic dealer, and the acquisition was made through a specialized international transaction, conducted within a recognized numismatic network and validated to the highest standards of the art and heritage market; the attribution is supported by concordance with the published references RIC 224 / BMC 522 / Cohen 584, consistently cited in documentation and sale archives.
Each specimen is examined, described, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity consistent with the standards of the art and heritage market, this notice remaining strictly grounded in observable elements and consultable reference works, so that the collector’s confidence rests on a fully verifiable basis.