Severus Alexander Roman Silver Denarius (AD 222-235) NGC

Own a certified Roman Silver Denarius of Severus Alexander (AD 222–235), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin represents the final years of stability before Rome plunged into one of its most turbulent eras.

Severus Alexander succeeded his cousin Elagabalus after a palace coup removed the decadent young emperor. In contrast to his predecessor, Severus Alexander ruled with kindness, prudence, and moderation. His thirteen-year reign was marked by relative peace and prosperity — a rare achievement during the later stages of the Roman Empire.

Alexander managed to stabilize the eastern frontier by checking the advances of the rising Sassanid Empire and kept pressure along the northern borders through a mix of diplomacy and strategic bribery of Germanic tribes. His efforts delayed, but could not ultimately prevent, the growing instability that threatened Rome.

Despite his popularity with the Senate and the people, Severus Alexander’s reliance on compromise and negotiation alienated the increasingly powerful Roman military. In 235 AD, he was assassinated by mutinous soldiers, ending the Severan dynasty and ushering in the Crisis of the Third Century — a chaotic fifty-year period of civil war, economic collapse, and foreign invasions.

Denarii of Severus Alexander typically feature his youthful, idealized portrait on the obverse and reverses celebrating peace, military success, or Roman virtues.

Certified by NGC, this Silver Denarius offers a connection to the final bright moment before Rome’s long descent into crisis — an essential addition for collectors of Roman imperial history, the Severan dynasty, or ancient leadership at a crossroads.