Literary sources place the usurpation of Uranius during the reigns of Heliogabalus or Alexander Severus. However, in Syria in 253 coins were struck bearing the name L. Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Severus Uranius Antoninus and numismatical evidence points thus to a reign much later.

It's not clear whether the coins that were struck in Syria belong to the same man (or men) spoken about in the texts. If the later date is correct Uranius might have helped defend the Roman Empire against Shapur I, the Sassanid king of Persia.

What happened to him after his claim on the throne is not known.