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
270-275 AD
Obverse:
SEVERINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right on crescent.
Reverse:
CONCORDIAE MILITVM, Concordia standing left holding two standards
(2)
Severina
275-283 A.D.
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BL
Antoninianus
Unknown mint
Obverse:
SEVERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right on a crescent
Reverse:
CONCORDIAE MILITVM, Concordia standing left with two ensigns.
(3)
Severina
275 AD
Obverse:
diademed, draped bust on crescent right; SEVERINA AVG
Reverse:
Concordia standing left, holding standard in each hand; CONCORDIAE MILITVM / XXI