Denarius

In the Roman Empire, the common medium of exchange was the denarius. Initially minted almost from pure silver, it gradually lost its full value. In the 3rd century, the deepening political and economic crisis of the Empire brought the monetary system to the brink of collapse. During the reign of Alexander (231-235), the last representative of the Severan dynasty, the content of precious metal in denarii oscillated between 43-50%. Stamps of coins were filled with various images, often connected with the current political or military situation. As a rule, there was a naturalistic portrait of the Emperor with a laurel wreath on the obverse, and on the reverse, there was a clear pattern of symbolic representations surrounded by appropriate legends. The short-reigning, tolerant and peaceful Alexander Severus tried to change the country's internal politics, limit the power of the military, and restore the role of the marginalised Senate. Monetary propaganda took on a peaceful dimension, the number of personifications symbolising abstract values and ideas such as justice (Aequitas), fidelity (Fides), freedom (Libertas), piety (Pietas), health (Salus), or hope (Spes) increased. The Emperor's head is covered with a laurel wreath on the presented denarius, while the walking Spes with a flower personifies hope for a good harvest, wealth and security. The accompanying legend: SPES PUBLICA referred to the prosperity of the whole society. Spes was one of the few personifications whose representation was strictly defined and unchanged since the reign of Vespasian. The quest for the peaceful existence of the state and strengthening the Emperor's authority and scope of power based on the Senate failed. The assassination of Alexander Severus (235) ended the principate period, which was conventional in the history of the Empire when the Emperor was entitled as the first among equals (primus inter pares).

Genowefa Horoszko