I just won this coin at auction. Elagabalus' Provincial bronzes are numerous but the Imperial bronzes seem to be scarce. I feel fortunate to have obtained this coin. Please post your Elagabalus Imperial bronzes. Elagabalus (218-222).AE Sestertius, 218 AD.Obv. IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG TR P COS. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.Rev. [PM TR P IIII C]OS III PP SC. Providentia standing left, holding rod over globe and cornucopiae; in left field, star.RIC 321. C. 191.AE.g. 17.78mm. 30.00
Thanks David. I agree. I've been on the lookout for a coin like this for some time. I've seen other Elagabalus sestertii but the price was prohibitive for me. I was surprised at the price for this one.
Nice coin and I have to admit I have yet to see one come up for sale - then again I haven't checked for that particular denomination. The denarii are relatively plentiful. My sole Elagabalus is this Antioch, Syria AR Tetradrachm, 14.1 grams, 26mm.
Nice Sestertius of Elagabalus, Gary. They are indeed hard to find, in my limited experience, anyway. I lucked into an as earlier this year, my only imperial AE of this ruler: Elagabalus Æ As (c. 219-220 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate draped bust right / ADVENTVS AVGVSTI, SC below, emperor on horseback left, holding baton. RIC 341; Cohen 7; BMC 365. (11.75 grams / 25 mm)
Here is my Sestertius of Elagabalus, celebrating his Victory over Macrinus: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG - laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right. VICTORIA ANTONINI AVG S C - Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm branch Sestertius, Rome 218 AD 30,22 mm / 20,15 gr RIC 377; BMCRE 362; Cohen 297; Thirion (Le Monnayage d’Elagabale) 66; Sear 7582
Bronzes of this period are scarce, so you made a good find. The decline of base metal usage started with Septimius Severus and went down from there. I dont have a Caracalla, but this decent Septimius Severus sestertius:
Nice coin Mike. I wonder if the production of Elagabalus's Imperial bronzes was limited due to his large minting of denarii, melted down after his assassination or just plain lost after the Fall of Rome?
Nice Ken. Good quality base coinage of Septimius Severus are scarce. But I wonder why the base coinage was limited during this time period. Was the market already flooded with base coinage from earlier rulers?
I'm no expert in 3rd Century economics but I have always assumed the lack of small coinage to be the result of massive inflation of the period. This however is not the same situation in the provinces where small base metal denominations were flourished at the same time.
Nice Septimius - I have one of the same type, but with an unlisted bust type. I have never been able to figure out why the Rome mint only used the unusual bust type for Anonna - perhaps it was a trial piece.
Been looking for one of these in a sestertii for years - CNG had one about six months ago but it was a low point in my finances so I had to forego it.
Elagabalus Ae Sestertius 220 A.D. RIC 300 Obv. Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed. Rv. Sol advancing right. 19.18 grms 25 mm