Posted below is an interesting collection of 18 different sestertii of Elagabalus, a 19 year effort (first coin purchased in 2002) with an extreme focus the last few years. My goal is to have an example of every type Elagabalus struck. Since only 10 files may be uploaded this posting is in two parts. It may take some time to find other examples besides what is below - no sestertius of Elagabalus is common but some more than others, and some rarely, if ever, make an appearance, especially an affordable example. However, through an odd combination of circumstances I managed to find about eight examples the last three years. It would be traditional at this point to set forth the history of Elagabalus - I am afraid that I just do not have time for it, but would urge readers to check out the fairly good summary on the Encyclopedia Britannica, which is online. Why Elagabalus? A number of reasons - he is not exactly a popular emperor, which makes his sestertii much more affordable. Plus some years ago I decided to focus on the study of the history of the Severan period. I have also found that a patient review of listings, along with help from kind sellers in the US and Europe, have allowed for the purchase of a number of coins of Elagabalus at relatively modest prices. Ancient coin collectors, I have found, are extremely helpful when it comes to the hobby, and several of the coins presented here were purchased through private sales from sellers who knew of my interest. 1. Roma seated RIC 280 - purchased from Paganecoins, ca. 2002 2. Roma seated - RIC 284. Purchased on ebay, ca. 2004 3. Sun God Standing - RIC 293 - purchased from a dealer who usually sells on VCOINS on ebay ca. 212 4. Genius seated holding globe- RIC 304. Purchased from well known Spanish dealer on ebay in 2021. I was delighted to be able to buy this coin since it is quite rare! 5. Elagabalus in Quadriga- RIC 308. I think I got this one was from Heritage, circa 2020. 6. Providentia - RIC 321 - purchased from Numismatik Naumann ca 2018. I like the Tibur patina 7. Emperor standing with patera over alter etc. RIC 327. Purchased on ebay from an Italian seller. circa 2011. The coins looks better than the photo. 8. Fides seated - RIC 345. Purchased on ebay ca. 212 from a VCOINS seller. I love this coin, which is almost 27 grams, and has a nice Tiber patina. A bit out of order - sorry. 9. Horned Emperor on obverse with Emperor standing with club and patera over alter- RIC 334. One of two rare COS V in the collection. A relatively recent purchase from a kindly fellow collector, ca 2021 10. Same type as above, sans horn. RIC 334 -
Thanks for sharing. My favorites are #2 - Roma seated and #6 - Hermione Granger holding a magic wand and a Cornucopia.
I like #6 as well - the dots at the end of the stars - I think you need the small details that Tiber patina gives you for that -
What I was trying to say is that Tiber patina sometimes shows details that are not shown on patinated coins.
I forgot to put in #5 that most existing examples on ACSEARCH are from this die pair. Most are also quite worn - makes you wonder if all were discovered at the same time. Also #4 - what is that weird spot at four O'clock on the obverse?
When I last left this thread I had 21 different types and needed two to have a complete set of every major sestertii of Elagabalus - in addition to these 18 I posted three other types Mars, Salus and a religious type. At that point in order to complete the 23 major types I needed only a platform scene, none of which had been sold in a major auction since ca. 2004 and an Adventus reverse with Elagabalus on horseback - lord know what it celebrated since E did not leave Rome during his reign. After two Adventus types were offered but both sold for over a thousand dollars which is beyond my means I finally found one offered by Heritage as part of a 20 coin lot with the whole lot going for 190 Euros - I will post it here when I get it. Yes it is worn but not overly worn so it fits right in. I had almost given up and was about to sell the whole group and focus on better quality sestertii when this was won. So now I wait and try to find the last piece of the puzzle - the elusive platform sestertii of Elagabalus - needless to say if you hear of one for sale please let me know. I still can’t believe I found Mars and Salus examples - Mars was supposedly common but only one of these had been offered in a major auction since 2009. And I found it - like many others it was found on eBay - once again proving that there is still life in ebay as a source of coins. A substantial part of my collection comes from eBay purchases and not all in the distant past. So stay tuned!!!
I agree - it is amazing what Tiber patina gives you - I’ll post a Septimus sestertius that illustrates this - Victory reverse is amazing due to the detail on her wings
I foolishly started a part two if this thread instead of adding the sestertii to this thread so all will be in one place. As noted above, I needed two types to have examples of all of the 23 different major types of Elagabalus sestertii - Elagabalus on a horse and platform scene. The horse type is more common - there are about five on ACSEARCH representing those sold in a major auction since 1999 but only one, possibly two platform types - I have not seen one of those sold since CNG sale in or about 2006. I am going to rephotograph those in Part Two of my articles on the sestertii of Elagabalus so that all 22 are on this thread. But first I can add the last four types including the one just purchased. It has been a years long effort to get this done - there are still a few with more minor differences that i would love to have but Elagabalus sestertii are actually pretty rare - sometimes there are none being offered by major auction houses, and none offered on ebay - which despite everything is still a great place to find great coins. I should start a thread with those I have found in the past few years - but who needs the competition? Two Adventus types have been offered in the last ten years or so - a beautiful one that went for over $1000, and an even nicer one that went for over $1500 - not in my price range. However, much to my surprise, Heritage was offering a group lot of about 20 coins and including among them was a worn Adventus type of Elagabalus - I bought the lot for 190 euros - and here it is - it is a die match of one of the two dies I have seen for this type - Next is this Mars which is only the second one offered in a major sale since 1999: For some reason no matter what I do I can't simply put up Mars. Next is Salus - I saw one for sale after not seeing any for years, but right after I got this one two more came up for sale - they didn't sell fast either which makes me wonder if I am the only one out there collecting his sestertii: And finally this one - much more rare than the other religious type - these are unique to Elagabalus as Rome tossed out the worship of this entity when they tossed out Elagabalus and his mom - this one was purchased at a European auction: And that's it - one more to go - assuming I get it, then what? Well...why not add a "women of Elagabalus" to this - I do have a few - no, it does not include Anna Faustina - but I can add Julia Soamias, Julia Maesa, Julia Paula and Aquila Severa, and also an interesting dupondius of Elagabalus. I can also add some racy stories from Dio Cassius about this bizarre emperor.
Some reflexions on your interesting sestertii of Elagabalus. You wrote . The Adventus is not about the emperor leaving rome but entering Rome. This sestertius must have been minted in 219 when Elagabalus arrived in Rome from Hemesa, carrying the Baetyl with him (not on his back like Obelix, but on a chariot like Elagabalus). As represented on coins, this adventus must have been traditional : the emperor on horseback, in the military attire of all imperatores, raising hand. Herodian wrote that the new young emperor entered Rome in Syrian priestly robes, a first scandal, but Cassius Dio and the Historia Augusta (after Marius Maximus) report nothing special on this occasion, like on coins minted for the circumstance. Another remark : your Mars and Salus Antonini sestertii are obverse die-linked. On this die, Elagabalus' bust looks a little like Diadumenianus. These two undated sestertii must have been minted very early in the reign, perhaps as soon as 218, before the new emperor had been seen in Rome. This is consistent with the Mars theme : Elagabalus fought his only war in 218, when toppling Macrinus in Syria.
