Family Portraits

I thought it might be cool to see some collections that feature entire families. I received Julia Domna and Septimius Severus today which rounded out my (first two generations) collection of the Severan family. The first picture is them all together (lined up like the famous tondo :) ) and the second is them photographed separately since it was hard to get the dark Caracalla coin to look good with the silver other three.

I'm going to rephotograph the silver ones some time soon and get them looking right (so tough with overpolished silver coins) but I think the lighting I used brought out something a little different in them.






For anyone unfamiliar the Severan family ruled Rome through the beginning part of the Crisis of the Third Century. Septimius Severus seized power militarily after Commodus died. He had a relatively decent reign, earning the contempt of the Senate but being popular with the soldiers and common folk. He told his sons (Caracalla and Geta) to get along with each other and take care of the military, but as soon as he died they began fighting. Their mother (Julia Domna) attempted to reconcile them, but wound up having to watch in horror as Caracalla's men killed Geta. Caracalla would rule for another few years before being assassinated by a soldier while campaigning.