Nikaia (AD 222-235) AE 22 - Severus Alexander

Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD. AE22 (5.31g). M AVP CEVH AΛEΞANDPOC AVΓ,
laureate head right / NI-K-A-I separated by three standards, outer standards topped with capricorn; EΩN in exergue. VF, medium brown patina, well-centered with a solid strike. Hoeft coll.

The capricorn standards likely represent Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix, the legion which had initially supported Septimius Severus in his bid for the purple. While rather distantly related to Septimius Severus through Julia Domna, though named after him, Alexander seems to have encouraged a rumor that he was in fact the illegitimate son of Caracalla and therefore the grandson of Septimius. This coin then suggests an interesting and subtle use of propaganda.