JULIA DOMNA with the sons CARACALLA & GETA
ca.211 AD
Obverse: IVLIA AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Domna.
Reverse: AETERNIT. IMPERI, ( Eternity of the Empire) Busts of Caracalla with laurel wreath and Geta vis-a-vis.
- Hand embossed
- Brass color
- Diameter 1,8cm
- Dating ca.211 A.D.
- Material pewter
Julia Domna (160 - 217 AD) was the second wife of the commander and emperor Septimius Severus. With him she had two sons , Caracalla and Geta. After the assumption of power of Severus 193 AD she became one of the most powerful emperor's wives. She distinguished herself by her cleverness, her high education and her political abilities. Thus, she exercised great influence on the political events at the time of Septimius Severus.
The denarius shown here is from the reign of her eldest son Caracalla. Because of her abilities for politics, Caracalla even entrusted her with the sole leadership of the state affairs for some time, after he took over the sole rule after the death of his father and the murder of his brother Geta ordered by him. Caracalla fell victim to an assassination attempt in early April of 217 AD, whereupon she opted for suicide by starvation and probably died in 217 AD. Her helmet-like hairstyle could suggest a wig used, which was also quite common in Roman times. On all depictions of Julia Domna, her hair is laid close to her head in waves and parted with a center parting at the front of her head. The back part of the hairstyle is not visible on the coin portraits, but we know from round sculptures that the empress put her hair up in a special intertwined way.
