Silver Denarius, Ancient Rome, c. 193-217 AD
Julia Domna (Wife of Septimius Severus, Mother of Caracalla and Geta)
Obv: Bust of Empress, right
Rev: "VENVS GENETRIX", Venus enthroned, left
Mint: Rome (216 AD)
Sear-R7106, 19mm, 3.08 gm
Well struck portrait!
Julia Domna (170 AD –217 AD) was a member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire. Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Emperors Geta and Caracalla, Julia was famous for her prodigious learning as well as her extraordinary political influence.
The greatest in a long line of women exercising power behind the throne in Rome, she was effectively the de facto ruler of an Empire of seventy million people stretching from Scotland to Iraq.
Domna committed suicide in 217 upon hearing of Caracalla's assassination in the course of a campaign against Parthia.