Ancient Rome - AD 225-227 Orbiana AR Denarius NGC AU Ex. Robbins Collection

Denarius struck at Rome Mint. Obverse presents bust of Orbiana, wife of the young Severus Alexander, facing right, wearing stephane in her hair. Around rim: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA. Reverse presents Concordia seated facing left, holding patera and double cornucopia. Around rim: CONCORDIA AVGG.

Head of Empress Sallustia Orbiana, wife of Severus Alexander. Marble, 3rd century. Unknown artist. Photo: Wikipedia.

Sallustia Orbiana was a 3rd century Roman empress, who held the title of Augusta as the wife of Severus Alexander from CE 225 to 227. It was in late 225 that she married the emperor, after the passing of his grandmother. Severus was sixteen years old when he married her. Her beauty was captured in many works of contemporary art. Possibly due to the jealously of Julia Mamaea, Severus' mother, Orbiana was divorced and then exiled to Libya in 227.