Orbiana. Augusta, AD 225-227. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 19.89 g, 12h). Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 130
Lot: 518. Estimated: $ 500

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Orbiana. Augusta, AD 225-227. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 19.89 g, 12h). Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Severus Alexander, holding volumen, and Orbiana standing vis-á-vis, clasping right hands. RIC IV 657 (Alexander); BMCRE 301 (Alexander); Banti 3. Green patina, die break on reverse. VF. Rare.

Ex John Wright Collection; Classical Numismatic Group 63 (21 May 2003), lot 1482.

Sallustia Orbiana was the daughter of Lucius Seius Herennius Sallustius, an influential Roman senator. In AD 225, when she was about 16, she married the young emperor Severus Alexander, who was about the same age. Their marriage gave every appearance of being tranquil for two years; however, her position theoretically equaled that of the emperor’s mother, Julia Mamaea, the true power behind the throne. Mamaea could not countenance this. In AD 227, Sallustius was abruptly charged with trying to foment a rebellion with the Praetorian guards, arrested, and executed. The marriage of Alexander and Orbiana was annulled, and she was stripped of her titles and exiled to Libya. Her final fate is unknown. Such were the risks of challenging a jealous mother-in-law.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 130 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 23-24 September 2025. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 23 September at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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