No todos los denarios son iguales: La plata de los emperadores

Not all denarii are the same: The silver of the emperors

SOFIA SERRANO COELLO DE PORTUGAL

Not all denarii are the same. Some of the most iconic ones are true works of art.

The Denarii of Domitian

Domitian (81–96 A.D.): The "perfectionist." His coins are famous for having almost pure silver and incredible artistic detail. He was an emperor who cared for his image down to the last detail.

Denarius of Domitian - Sophie's in Jupiter

The Denarii of Trajan

Trajan (98–117 A.D.): The denarius of success. Minted during the peak expansion of Rome, these coins showcase a rich and proud empire, filled with scenes of conquests and war spoils.

Denarius of Trajan - Sophie's in Jupiter

The Denarii of Julia Maesa and Julia Soemias

The denarii of the Severan Dynasty belong to one of the most intense and "soap opera-like" stages of Rome. Here, the denarius ceased to be just war propaganda and became a matter of family, female power, and Shakespearean tragedies.

Some of the faces minted on these coins are of women; during this time, the women of the imperial family pulled the strings of many of the empire's affairs.

  • Julia Maesa: Grandmother of two emperors and a true strategist. Her denarii show her with a dignified and stern appearance. The interesting fact is that she was the one who bribed the legions with bags of denarii to proclaim her grandson Elagabalus as emperor.
Silver Denarius of Julia Maesa - Sophie's in Jupiter
  • Julia Soemias: Mother of Elagabalus. Her coins sought to legitimize her position in a man's world. She often appeared with the title of Heavenly Venus, trying to project an image of beauty and divinity while the Empire dealt with her son's eccentric behavior.
Silver Denarius of Julia Soemias - Sophie's in Jupiter

In the denarii of Julia Maesa and Julia Soemias, great attention was paid to the hairstyle. Wigs and elaborate curls were in fashion in Rome, and women throughout the Empire copied the hairstyle they saw on the coins of Julia Maesa.

The Denarii of Geta

The story of the denarii of Geta is sad and fascinating. He ruled alongside his brother Caracalla, but they hated each other to death. After murdering Geta in their mother's arms, Caracalla ordered a Damnatio Memoriae. This meant erasing all traces of Geta: statues, inscriptions, and, of course, melting down his coins.

Therefore, finding a Geta denarius in good condition is like finding a forbidden piece; they are testimonies of an emperor that his own brother tried to erase from existence.

The Denarii of Alexander Severus

Alexander Severus came to the throne very young after the chaos of his cousin Elagabalus. His denarii reflect a radical change in tone. His portraits are of a serious and responsible young man. He wanted to convey that "the rebellious boy is gone and now there is an adult in charge."

Denarius of Alexander Severus - Sophie's in Jupiter

Under his reign, the purity of silver in the denarius began to dangerously decline. He was one of the last emperors to issue denarii of "good" quality before the crisis of the third century made coins almost copper plated with silver.

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