For the coinage of Severus Alexander, there were two Imperial Mints, one in Rome and the other in East was Antioch (modern day Syria). There was a large amount of provincial mintage at Alexandria and the other local mints.
ROME
The majority of the Imperial coins of Severus Alexander are from the Rome Mint. Imperial Coins from the Roman Mint during the time of Alexander show a decline in weight due to the drop in fineness of the silver but show no shrinkage in size. Later coins actually have a broader, and thus flatter and thinner flan. The lettering during this time is traditional with small, neat, squarish and will spaced letters that lean to the right. The artistic standards of coins for previous Severan rulers continued under Severus Alexander. They show high relief, especially with gold issues, and strive for realism. Take a look at the following Aureus. Look at the detail on this coin!! You can clearly see the expression on the face on the reverse and the tip of the spear.
Other Examples of Coins from the Rome Mint
ANTIOCH
Coins were also produced at the
Eastern Mint at Antioch (Syria) for the first two years of his reign (222 -223
AD).
Coins from this mint differ in respect to fabric, style, lettering, and reverse
types. Coins from the Antioch Mint show the following
characteristics:
 | Star on the reverse field |
| A's in Legends are unbarred especially on obverse (look like upside down V's) |
| Will have a boy portrait as the coins were only minted for 222 - 223 AD. |
| Slightly
smaller flan |
| Lettering
more clumsy |
| Use
of unusual letter forms |
| Obverse
shows thin neck, compressed lips, and the annulet (pupil) is more prominent
in eye (looks like eye is looking at you instead of away) |
| Leaves
of the laurel wreath are parallel to each other along center line |
| More baser alloy. |
The keys that I look for are first the star on the reverse, the different "A's" on the obverse, and the thin neck.
The majority of Severus Alexander coins from Antioch fall into the following categories:
|
Obverse (Date) |
Reverse (star location) |
| IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG (222) | PM TRP COS Fortuna (left) |
| PM TRP COS Mars (left) | |
| AEQUITAS AVG (left) | |
| LIBERTAS AVG (left) | |
| SALUS PUBLICA (left) | |
| VICTORIA AVG (left) | |
| IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG (222) | same as all above (left) |
| IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG (223) | PM TRP II COS Fortuna (left) |
| PM TRP II COS Mars (left) | |
| AEQUITAS AVG (left) | |
| LIBERTAS AVG (left) | |
| IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG (223) | LIBERALITAS AVG special issue (none) |
| AEQUITAS AVG (none) | |
| CONCORDIA (none) | |
| LIBERTAS AVG (none) | |
| NOBILITAS (none) | |
| PIETAS AVG (none) | |
| PROVID DEORUM (none) |
This chart covers most examples but newly attributed coins to the Antioch mint are being found every day. I have some of these newly attributed Antioch coins listed on my Rarities Page.
To see more Examples of Coins of the Eastern Mint at Antioch, click the link.
(see BMC Vol. VI pp. 8, 24, 83-87 for more information)
