Missing arch plinth to make room for large head.

Picked up this scarse last year Elagabalus coin because unusual compared to any other that I have seen, not sure why Astarte's head is so large although he does wear a crown, and looked at quite a few of this type and never seen one with the top of door frame missing. My coin and below that a CNG archive showing what should be there.

Weight:11.56 gm.Phoenicia. Tripolis. Elagabalus 218-222 A.D. AE 23 mm.

Dated year {CY 533}, 221-222 A.D.
Obverse: Laureate and druped bust of Elagabalus right.
Reverse:Temple of Astarte, consisting of central arch and two wings with four columns; statue of Astarte under arch.
BMC 120; SNG Copenhagen 291
SHOW YOUR UNUSUAL COINS WITH BITS MISSING OR EXTRA BITS OR ANY ELAGABALUS !!!!!

 

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That is indeed a big head! BTW, Astarte is a she

 

Maybe Astarte is wearing a bulky headdress as on this terracotta statue of her from Susa, Middle Elamite period, 1150-1100 BC. Now in The Louvre:

Vesta should be holding a scepter on this denarius of Julia Domna:


Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman AR Denarius, 2.29 g, 16.8 mm, 1 h
Rome, issue 9, AD 195.
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium in right hand, left hand at side.
Refs: RIC IV 582 var.; BMCRE 93; Hill 188; Cohen --; RCV --; CRE --.

I have to wonder if it was produced from only a single reverse die. No examples of this coin are to be found on acsearchinfo, the Coin Project, or on Wildwinds. The only other example I could find online is the one in the British Museum collection, which is a reverse die-match:



This is the usual example of this coin:


Not mine. This coin sold at VAuctions Auction 255, lot 81, November 18, 2010.

 

RI Elagabalus 218-222 CE AR Antoninianus Radiate Roma seated

 

That's it you got it has to be the headdress......or maybe Bing's example

 

I knew that I was just testing you all.

 

Great coin, good silver. I don't think I have seen one of that type.

 

Neat addition!

 

Really cool coin @Ancient Aussie ! I don't have any coins with Astarte but here's my favorite Elagabalus.

Roman Empire
Elagabalus
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 218-222
Obv.: IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG; Laureate draped cuirassed bust right
Rev.: VICTOR ANTONINI AVG; Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm branch
Dia.: 20.29 mm
Wt.: 3.26 g
Ref.: RIC IV 153
Ex Bill Rosenblum mailbox sale 28F, Nov. 1998


This is a copy of a Canaanite gold plaque from the 13th century BC that I saw while at the Tower of David in Jerusalem. The original is in the National Museum. It is thought to show Astarte and as you can see she is sporting head gear that is almost as tall as she is! Crazy hat lady...

 

Very nice coin Curtismo, and that plaque is absolutely fantastic, I'm glad you took a pic of it. Maybe in that last year of Elegalabus's reign he come under pressure to show a larger headdress on Astarte which is reflected on my coin.