Obverse: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head of Severus Alexander facing right, with light drapery on left shoulder.

Reverse: PROFECTIO AVGVSTI S C, Alexander on horseback pacing right, holding spear, preceded by Victory walking right holding wreath.

RIC: 596. Sear: 8012. BMCRE: 748. [Rome, AD 231].

Diameter: 31 mm. Weight: 16.1 g.

A very rare brass sestertius of Severus Alexander struck in Rome, AD 231. In the same year, hostile Sassanian forces led by Ardashir I had invaded Rome’s eastern provinces, overrunning Mesopotamia and penetrating possibly as far as Syria and Cappadocia, forcing from the young Alexander a vigorous response. The detailed reverse depicts the emperor on horseback, setting out to war in the east, preceded by Victory. Perhaps a rather hopeful image as according to Herodian the Roman armies suffered a number of humiliating defeats.