Roman Severina Silver Billon Antoninianus, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 270 - 275 CE

The obverse depicts the draped bust of Ulpia Severina, Roman empress and the wife of emperor Aurelian from 270 to 275 CE. The reverse features Fides, the goddess of good faith, honesty, and oaths, holding a standard and facing Sol, the sun, holding a globe. The coin is recently set as a 95% silver pendant and strung on a braided silver chain.

The Antoninianus or pre-reform radiate, was a coin used during the Roman Empire. The coin was introduced by the Emperor Caracalla in early 215 CE. Originally this coin style was high purity silver content but went down to a slow as 5%. Traders would keep the older Antoninianus coins for trading, and pay taxes with the new lower grade coins that had high copper content.

Roman Billion: This term is applied to coins of silver mixed with much copper alloy, or to copper with a small alloy of silver. From the reign of Gallienus to that of Claudius II ( 253 to 270 CE), almost all the coins were made of billon. 

Medium: Silver

Dimensions: Coin diameter: 1 inch (2.5 cm). Pendant drop length: 1 1/4 inches (3.17 cm)

Condition: The coin is in very fine condition.

Provenance: Private NY collection acquired from the trade in the early 2000s.