127: Rome. Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD. Gold Aureus - eBay 

Closed at:US $7,750.00
Auction Date:May-26-08 10:00:00 PDT   

  Rome. Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD. Gold Aureus (6.06 g), 
  Rome mint, struck 230 AD. Laureate bust of Severus Alexander 
  right, cloak at shoulder. Reverse: Severus Alexander as 
  Romulus, founder of Rome, in military attire, walking right, 
  holding spear and trophy; PM TR P VIIII COS III PP. RIC 103; 
  BMCRE 620; C. --; Calicó 3121. Finely centered on spacious 
  flan. Bold, sharp strike and fully lustrous. NGC graded Choice 
  Uncirculated. 

  Alexander's reign saw the end of the Severan dynasty, which 
  despite a brief interruption had lasted four decades. As an 
  individual, he seems to have possessed the finest in personal 
  qualities of all of that clan who had occupied the throne. 
  And, if the times had been better, he might have proved 
  himself to be another Antoninus Pius, whose unexciting reign 
  enjoyed the fruits of the Pax Romana at its zenith. Sadly for 
  Alexander, the times weren't.

  For political reasons Alexander was made Caesar and heir to 
  his increasingly detested and irrational cousin, the emperor 
  Elagabalus -- Alexander's grandmother, Julia Maesa, wisely 
  seeing that Severus would be the means for the dynasty's 
  continued existence. He managed to survive the next nine 
  months of his cousin's growing hostility (and occasional 
  assassination attempts). With the demise of Elagabalus in 222 
  AD, the 14-year-old Alexander was proclaimed Augustus. Because 
  of his young age, Alexander's mother took the dominant role at 
  the initiation of his reign. 

  Unfortunately for Alexander, it was a position she was loathe 
  to relinquish, even as he matured. Her ambitiousness created a 
  schism between the government and the army, who saw their 
  emperor as being pliant to, and perhaps subservient to, a 
  woman. Nevertheless, while times were peaceful (for a period 
  of about nine years). Alexander ruled wisely and well, and the 
  empire prospered. But when rebellion and invasion flared, his 
  less than aggressive nature (attributed to his mother's 
  domination) was viewed by the army with suspicion. Returning 
  his legions to Germany after fending off Persian incursions in 
  the East, the troops mutinied and murdered Alexander and his 
  mother. The soldiers elected one of their own to the imperial 
  purple, Maximinus "the Thracian," and thus the model for the 
  ascension (and demotion) of Rome's emperors was set for much 
  of the remaining third century. 
  Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. 

Images & text re-used by permission, courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, Beverly Hills, CA