Otacilia Severa, 244-249, Antoninianus

Otacilia Severa, antoninianus, AR, Augusta 244-249 AD, Rome mint, struck 244-249 AD, 3.77 g, 22 mm. Obverse with draped bust of Otacilia Severa right, wearing stephane; legend M OTACIL SEVERA AVG. Reverse with Concordia standing, holding patera and double cornucopiae; legend CONCORDIA AVGG. Well-centred for the issue with clear legends and principal devices; typical fabric for the Rome antoniniani of Philip I’s reign. RIC IV Philip I 126.

Otacilia Severa was the wife of Philip I and held the title Augusta during a period marked by dynastic presentation and the promotion of stability following Gordian III’s death and Philip’s accession. The CONCORDIA AVGG reverse type advertises concord between the imperial couple, a standard message of legitimacy and continuity in mid-third-century imperial coinage, issued widely from the Rome mint for circulation throughout the empire.