Aquilia Severa Denarius (220-222 AD) - Second Wife of Elagabalus, Vestal Virgin of Imperial Intrigue

Among the most unusual and controversial figures in Roman imperial history stands Aquilia Severa, a Vestal Virgin elevated to Augusta as the second wife of the young emperor Elagabalus. Her story is entwined with religion, scandal, and the politics of the Severan court, and it survives most tangibly in the AR denarius (RIC IV 226) struck in her name during AD 220-222. This silver coin captures not only her imperial status but also the extraordinary intersection of sacred tradition and imperial ambition that defined her brief prominence in Roman history.

Vestal to Empress: A Controversial Union

Aquilia Severa’s early life is largely obscure, but her fame and infamy arises from her role as a Vestal Virgin, a priestess dedicated to Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Vestals were sworn to celibacy for thirty years, and their chastity was considered essential to the security and spiritual health of Rome itself. In a daring and provocative move, Elagabalus married her in AD 220, shortly after divorcing his first wife, Julia Paula. This marriage shocked Roman society, directly violating sacred religious norms, and it was intended to link the emperor’s own Syrian sun-god, El-Gabal, with Rome’s religious traditions, consolidating divine sanction for his rule. Despite the scandal, Aquilia Severa was granted the title Augusta, elevating her to the highest female rank in the empire and making her a visible symbol of dynastic legitimacy. Her status as both a Vestal and an empress embodied a profound contradiction: the sacred and the secular, tradition and innovation, chastity and imperial politics.

The Coin: Silver Testament to Concord and Authority

Aquilia Severa’s elevated status is immortalized in the AR denarius (RIC IV 226), struck between AD 220 and 222. The obverse typically features her bust in draped attire, emphasizing her Augusta status, though precise details of the portrait vary depending on the surviving die. The depiction presents her with idealized, serene features, reflecting both her dignity as empress and her symbolic role as a moral and religious figure. The reverse of the denarius is especially significant. It depicts Concordia, the personification of harmony and agreement, standing at an altar, often holding a patera (libation dish) and a cornucopia, symbols of divine favor, prosperity, and unity. The legend CONCORDIA AVG emphasizes her role in fostering concord within the empire, both between the emperor and the Senate, and between Rome’s religious traditions and the imperial family.

Artistry and Propaganda

This denarius is a masterful example of Severan coinage, blending artistry with potent political messaging. By pairing Aquilia Severa’s portrait with Concordia at an altar, the coin communicates multiple layers of meaning:

• Dynastic Legitimacy: As Augusta, her image reinforced the continuity of the Severan line.
• Religious Integration: Concordia symbolized the harmony Elagabalus hoped to create between his Syrian sun-god and Roman religious traditions.
• Political Messaging: The coin reassured Rome that, despite the emperor’s controversial personal choices, divine favor and social stability were maintained.

The style of the coin, like much of Severan coinage, balances classical realism with dynastic idealization, giving the empress both a human presence and an almost divine authority.

Legacy of Aquilia Severa

Aquilia Severa’s time as empress was brief, lasting from AD 220 to 222, yet it remains one of the most memorable episodes in the Severan dynasty. The AR denarius serves as both a historical record and a tool of propaganda, capturing a moment when religious tradition collided with imperial ambition, and when a Vestal Virgin could be transformed into a symbol of imperial power. Her story reflects the turbulence and theatricality of Elagabalus’s reign, a time when the boundaries of Roman religious, political, and social norms were tested and redefined. Today, the denarius of Aquilia Severa endures as a rare and striking artifact, offering collectors and historians a glimpse into a reign defined by controversy, devotion, and the dramatic interplay between sacred duty and imperial authority.