Tomis, Severus Alexander, 4 unit — Laureate and cuirassed emperor standing left (CN type 12581)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 222–235
Issuing entity
Moesia inferior4 unit in bronze struck at Tomis in Moesia inferior under Severus Alexander, dated AD 222–235. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12581 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of Severus Alexander left, partly seen from behind, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, holding spear and shield with gorgoneion. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ*ΗϹ*ΕV ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ. Reverse: Laureate and cuirassed emperor (Severus Alexander) standing left, wearing paludamentum and boots, holding rod of trophy and parazonium; at his feet shield and tied up captive seated right. Legend: ΜΗΤΡΟΠ · ΠΟΝΤΟV · ΤΟΜΕΩϹ.
Measured specimens give a mean weight of 10.24 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 26 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Pick and Regling, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. 2. Halbbd., Abt. 1: Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. Die Münzen von Odessos und Tomis; mit einer Ergänzungstafel, Berlin 1910, p. 832, nr. 3255; Calomino, RPC VI: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. VI: From Elagabalus to Maximinus Thrax (AD 218–238). online, nr. 1893; Linked type corpus.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 4
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 3
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was Roman emperor from AD 222 until his assassination in March 235, serving as the final ruler of the Severan dynasty. Taking power at the age of 13 after the murder of Elagabalus, his thirteen-year reign proved prosperous in peacetime while contending with foreign conflicts against the Sassanid Empire and tribes in Germania. This civic bronze coin was struck under his authority at Tomis in Moesia inferior during his reign.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- 4 unit
- Recorded diameter
- 26 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 10.24 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Tomis
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Severus Alexander
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of Severus Alexander left, partly seen from behind, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, holding spear and shield with gorgoneion.
- Reverse type
- Laureate and cuirassed emperor (Severus Alexander) standing left, wearing paludamentum and boots, holding rod of trophy and parazonium; at his feet shield and tied up captive seated right.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ*ΗϹ*ΕV ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ΜΗΤΡΟΠ · ΠΟΝΤΟV · ΤΟΜΕΩϹ
Identification
- Period
- Roman Imperial Period
- How to identify
- Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/12581
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 12581
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 832, nr. 3255
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1893
- external concordance
Varieties
Tomis, Severus Alexander, 4 unit (CN type 12580)
Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution