Roman Empire Julia Maesa 218-225AD Silver Denarius Fine-Very Fine

An authentic Roman artefact, the Julia Maesa Silver Denarius’ is a stunning example of genuine Roman currency, a tribute to one of the empressess of the Roman Empire.

Sister-in-law to Emperor Septimius Severus and grandmother to Emperor Elagabalus and Severus Alexander, Julia Maesa was one of the most powerful and influential women in the history of the Roman Empire. She was born to a wealthy and prominent family, as her father was the high priest of the sun god Elagabal in the Syrian holy city of Emesa. But her rise to power truly began when her elder sister’s husband unexpectedly became emperor in 193 AD. Upon his promotion, he made Maesa’s husband praetor and later, consul.

When the reign of Emperor Severus ended with his death in 211 AD, his son Caracalla succeeded the throne. He ruled for only six years before he was murdered and his praetorian prefect, Macrinus, took up the position. Unhappy with the appointment, Maesa soon began to set the wheels in motion to elevate her own grandson to power. The son of Maesa’s eldest daughter, Varius Avitus Bassianus (later known as Elagabalus) was only 14 years old at the time but extremely popular among the soldiers of the eastern legions. Maesa began to spread rumours that Elagabalus was in fact a bastard son of Caracalla and used her considerable wealth to buy the allegiance of Macrinus’ troops. In 218 AD, the last loyal troops of Macrinus were defeated; when the soldiers discovered that their leader had fled the war, they promptly turned on him. He was killed in the aftermath of the battle.

Elagabalus, however, proved to be one of the worst rulers that the Roman Empire had ever seen. He showed a blatant disregard for religious traditions in Rome, naming the sun god Elagabal the chief deity of the Roman pantheon. He introduced extreme religious measures, including having cattle, sheep and young boys sacrificed every day at dawn. His marriage to a vestal virgin, Aquilia Severa, was also considered to be extremely scandalous. Knowing she had to take measures to remove Elagabalus from power, Maesa convinced her grandson to adopt his cousin, Severus Alexander, as Caesar.

Elagabalus belatedly realised that the appointment of Alexander only made him expendable and, in an attempt to remedy his mistake, Elagabalus tried to have Alexander killed. The assassination was foiled but forced Maesa’s hand. When the Praetorian Guard came for the Emperor, his mother tried to shield Elegabalus with her body and died with him. Both their corpses were stripped and dragged through the streets.

Alexander’s rise to power ensured Maesa’s position in the imperial government, though she did not live long after his accession, dying three years later. One of the few empresses of the Roman Empire, the reach of Julia Maesa’s influence can be attested to by the fact that coins were minted with her portrait. Though never recognised in the way emperors were, she nevertheless played an important role in guiding Rome through its last good days before the plague, civil war, economic depression and constant invasions brought about the Crisis of the Third Century.