Whether or not a coin is rare is a topic that can be disputed by various people.  The purpose of this page is to list coins of Severus Alexander that experts in the field consider as rare.    If you disagree about me listing a coin on this page or know of coin that I haven't included, please let me know.

(Please also see my page on the Coinage of Severus Alexander as Caesar.  These coins are very rare. )

Aureii

The next coin is an aureus in Mint condition.  Most aureus are rare but one that is in such perfect condition is even more rare.  This one is RIC 103, BMC 620.  Look at the detail in the hair on Severus Alexander's hair, or the spear head on the reverse.  This picture doesn't do it justice. 

Here's another beautiful aureus .   This one is RIC 211, BMCRE 699, (citing specimen in Viena) Cohen 555. 

Denarii

Very rarely do you find a totally unknown type for imperial coins.  You can find variations, but an entirely new denarius type for Severus Alexander are VERY rarely found.  

Above is a new type.  This type has previously been known only as a sestertius, BM 766, C 424-5, and, with middle not late obv. legend, as sestertius and As, BM 739-40, C 422-3.    Obverse is IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG.  Revese is P M TR P X COS III P P with Annona standing left, holding wheat or corn ears over modius and anchor.  Only one other coin such as this one known.

I thought the next coin was either a mistake at the mint or an undocumented example.  One of the most challenging areas I found with ancient coins is that unlike US coins, there are many undocumented examples of ancient coinage.  Just because you don't see an example of a coin in a reference doesn't mean it is fake.  You might be the first one to find an example of a new legitimate combination or you might be the first to find a hybrid. 

Roman Silver Coins (RSC) lists a similar coin as #528 but their example is described as IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, this coin is clearly IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG.  So what exactly is this coin?    I thought this was a mule as I had never seen in any listing.  I thought a mint mixed up an obverse with the wrong reverse.

Well an expert saw this coin on this site and was good enough to tell me about it.     "This is not a mule, but a continuation of the earlier type with the next obverse legend.  The type, in other words, [the reverse] was introduced a little before the change of obv. legend in 228 AD and lasted until a little after the change.  SALVS AVGVSTI is a rare type altogether that was struck only in silver for a short time just before and after the change of obverse legend in 228.  There were three coins like yours in the Eauze Hoard, France near Toulouse, published in 1992."   "Until the publication of the Eauze hoard, I think it was not known with the later obverse legend as on your coin; certainly you are correct that it is not in RIC or BMC.  On my interpretation it is not a mistake but merely proof that the type was introduced slightly before and lasted until slightly after the change of obv. legend.  Obviously it is a coin of considerable rarity.  The only citation I can give you is: Eauze Hoard 464 (3 spec.)"   

It has the rare reverse of PMTRPCOS (missing PP at end).    Note on RSC 202 thought this coin didn't exist with a star on the reverse.   Well it does!!  RIC 264.

This coin has the rare obverse of IMP CM AVR SEV ALEXAN AVG.  The D is missing.  It also has the rare reverse of PMTRPCOS (missing PP at end).  This one also has a star on reverse.   RSC 202a variant.

Forgetting PP on the end of the reverse must have been a common deviation from the Rome mint.  These coins RSC 201 also show the lack of PP.  Only 13 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard.

The above coin was only noted once in the Eauze Hoard.  It looks like RSC 532a or BM 81, but this coin is clearly from Antioch (note the long thin neck and the A's).

This is a good example of RSC 561, except there is another clear star on the reverse and it isn't suppose to have one.  Most likely another rare undocumented coin from Antioch.

The next rare coin is that of RSC 181.   The unusual feature of this coin is the reverse type.  It has the legend NOBILITAS.  It is Nobilitas standing right holding a long sceptre and a palladium (a statue of Athena).

The next coin is another rare reverse.  It is RSC 596.  It shows VOTIS / VICEN / NALI / BVS within laurel-wreath.  Very unusual style!

RSC 332 only had 24 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard even though it is a coin from the Rome Mint.

The next coin is a rare variant in the fact that the engraver ran out of room on the obverse and had to end with AV instead of AVG.  Eastern Mint.   RSC 11 Variant.

The next coin is another Eastern Mint coin that the engraver ran out of room on the obverse and had to end with AV instead of AVG.  BMC 1043 variant.

The next coin is RSC 13B.  An Eastern Mint coin which in the Eauze hoard only had two specimens of this coin.  Reka Devnia hoard only 10 with or without stars.

The next coin has the Elagabulus' first issue of Rome with the reverse being FIDES EXECITVS, "The Loyalty of the Army", something I'm he wish he would kept.  Both RSC 49 and BM 220 note it is as Mint of Rome when this one is definitely Eastern Mint.  Only 2 specimens in Reka Devnia hoard.

Engravers must have been having a bad week again.  This coin shows the mistake of LIBERITAS AVG instead of LIBERTAS.  RSC 146 lists this coin as not draped but BMC 1036 does.  This coin is clearly draped.  Only two specimens in Reka Devnia hoard.

Another example of a coin only known as Rome mint but this one clearly Eastern Mint.  Only 2 in Reka Devnia Hoard.  Note the size of the thunderbolt in Jupiter's hands.   RSC 204 Variant.

Another rare Eastern Mint coin, this one is RSC 207a.  Only 16 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard.

As

Rare Bronze As, reverse shows Emperor standing in quadriga.  Just a great reverse.  RIC 498.

Sometimes the rarity isn't the coin but who owned the coin.   The above coin was owned by President John Quincy Adams at one time.  It is  from the  From Mendel Petersons estate.  Coin is from lot 894 of the March, 1971 sale of the John Quincy Adams collection (Stacks)  probably obtained from Christian Blom, a bidder at the sale. A coin from an interesting family, it comes with a tag.  Mr. Peterson was Curator of Underwater Exploration & Naval History for the Smithsonian Institution here in Washington, he was well known in his field and had a large & varied collection.