Julia Maesa. Augusta, AD 218-224/5. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.05 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 218-220. Draped bust right / Pudicitia seated left, drawing veil from face and holding scepter. RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus); Thirion 412; RSC 36. Well struck and lustrous. Superb EF. With a spectacular portrait of this formidable female.

From the Style Collection. Ex G. Hirsch 258 (25 September 2008), lot 2629.

While Rome had seen powerful women before, none could compare in authority to Julia Maesa, grandmother of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander, who has rightly been called the first female Caesar. This remarkable denarius portrait conveys her forceful personality, who reestablished the Severan dynasty on the throne and guided it through several crises.

“To me, this is the perfect Julia Maesa. The portrait is like looking at a photograph of your grandmother. The engraving style varies widely on her portraits. This is simply the best.” (From the consignor)

Closing Date and Time: 20 November 2019 at 10:13:20 ET.

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