Ulpia Severina was a Roman Empress, the wife of the emperor Aurelian.
Very little is known about her, as there are no literary sources mentioning her existence. Almost everything known about her, including her name, is gathered from coins and inscriptions.
There is considerable numismatic evidence for Ulpia Severina ruling in her own right between the death of Aurelian and the election of Marcus Claudius Tacitus. Sources mention an interregnum between Aurelian and Tacitus, and some of Ulpia's coins appear to have been minted after Aurelian's death. As such she may have been the only woman to rule over the whole Roman Empire in her own power.
Very little is known about her, as there are no literary sources mentioning her existence. Almost everything known about her, including her name, is gathered from coins and inscriptions.
There is considerable numismatic evidence for Ulpia Severina ruling in her own right between the death of Aurelian and the election of Marcus Claudius Tacitus. Sources mention an interregnum between Aurelian and Tacitus, and some of Ulpia's coins appear to have been minted after Aurelian's death. As such she may have been the only woman to rule over the whole Roman Empire in her own power.
(1)
Severina
An
AE
Antoninianus
struck 270-275 AD
in
Ticinum
Obverse: SEVERINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right on crescent.
Reverse: CONCORDIAE MILITVM, Concordia standing left holding two standards
Diameter:
23 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 29 g
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 29 g
No notes for this coin
RIC V-1 8
(2)
Severina
An
BL
Antoninianus
struck 275-283 A.D.
in
Ticinum
Obverse: SEVERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right on a crescent
Reverse: CONCORDIAE MILITVM, Concordia standing left with two ensigns.
Diameter:
23 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.85 g
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.85 g
No notes for this coin
http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/1561
(3)
Severina
An
AE
Antoninianus
struck 275 AD
in
Cyzicus
Obverse: diademed, draped bust on crescent right; SEVERINA AVG
Reverse: Concordia standing left, holding standard in each hand; CONCORDIAE MILITVM / XXI
Diameter:
21.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.29 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.29 g
Cyzicus Issue 10, Phase 2, early – summer 275 AD
RIC 18; Cohen 7 http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/3084