All the way from Zurich to rural America...

Like most Roman empresses Orbiana's, life wasn't the happiest. In August 225 at the age of 16 Sallustia Orbiana wed emperor Severus Alexander in a marriage arranged by Alexander's mother Julia Mamaea. Unfortunately Mamaea quickly grew jealous of the bond that developed between Orbiana and her son, and like her mother Julia Maesa and sister Julia Domna, she was the power behind the throne and had the ability to fix the situation. She treated Orbiana cruelly, and after only 2 years of marriage Orbiana sought refuge with her father who was then executed for treason. Although Severus Alexander could have intervened he chose not to, and Orbiana was forced to divorce the emperor and exiled to Libya. If the Severan tradition was followed, she was likely murdered soon after her arrival.
I've always thought hers was one of the most beautiful of the Roman imperial empress coins, and light bidding at Nomos allowed me to catch this coin at a decent price.