Here's my collection of CONSVL II coins from the reign of Elagabalus. These were all minted in the East. Eastern denarii of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander are commonly referenced as having been minted at Antioch. But judging from the varying style and fabric, I suspect that this group represents the work of three or four different mints. I've arranged them in order by RSC number, which are based on Cohen. Please share anything you feel is relevant! RSC 21 Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 18mm, 3.00g, 12h. BMCRE 307, RIC 166, RSC 21, Thirion 323 (R2). Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSVL – II; Aequitas standing l., holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 2 in Reka Devnia, not in BM by 1975. Iridescent tone. Near EF/EF. ex Michael Kelly Collection. ------------------------------------- RSC 21 Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern mint, struck 218–9 CE; 19mm, 3.36g, 6h. BMCRE 307, RIC 166, RSC 21, Thirion 323 (R2). Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSV–L II; Aequitas standing l., holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 2 in Reka Devnia, not in BM collection by 1975. EF. ex Michael Kelly Collection. ------------------------------------- RSC 21 var. Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 21mm, 2.64g, 6h. BMCRE 307 var. (with cuirass), RIC 166 var. (same), RSC 21 var. (same), Thirion 343 var (same). Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate and draped bust r. Rx: C–ONS–VL II; Aequitas standing l., holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 2 in Reka Devnia, not in BM by 1975. MS. A minor bust variant, without cuirass, of the specimens recorded in the standard references. ex Samuel Puchala Collection. ------------------------------------- RSC 22 Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 19mm, 3.02g, 6h. BMCRE 307 note, RIC 167, RSC 22. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSVL – II P P; Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 3 in Reka Devnia. Obv. die link with next coin below. Reverse slightly double-struck. EF. ------------------------------------- RSC 22 Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 21mm, 3.92g, 1h. BMCRE 307 note, RIC 167, RSC 22. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSVL – II P P; Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 3 in Reka Devnia. Obv. die link with previous coin above. Slightly iridescent, double-struck. EF. ex Peter Fischer Collection of Scales and Weights. ------------------------------------- RSC 22 Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 21mm, 3.01g, 1h. BMCRE 307 note, RIC 167, RSC 22. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSV–L II P P; Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 3 in Reka Devnia. Reverse slightly double-struck. EF. ex Dr. Neussel Collection; acquired October 1959 at Maison Platt, Paris. ------------------------------------- RSC 23a Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 19mm, 3.16g, 8h. BMCRE 307–8, RIC 168, RSC 23a. Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSVL – II P P; Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 6 in Reka Devnia, although Moushmov does not differentiate bust variants with and without cuirass. Area of weak striking on the reverse. VF. ------------------------------------- RSC 23a Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 19mm, 2.89g, 6h. BMCRE 307–8, RIC 168, RSC 23a. Obv: IMP ANTO–NINVS AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CON–SVL II P P; Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Rare; 6 in Reka Devnia, although Moushmov does not differentiate bust variants with and without cuirass. VF. Unusual break for the word CONSVL in the rev. legend, with CON to the l. of the figure of Aequitas. ------------------------------------- RSC 24 var. Elagabalus. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–9 CE; 19mm, 3.57g, 7h. BMCRE p. 580 * note var (without dots in legend)., RIC 169 (R) var (same)., RSC 24 var (same). Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG •; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rx: CONSVL – • II P P ••; Roma seated l., holding victory and transverse scepter; behind her, shield. Rare; 2 in Reka Devnia. EF. Type not in BM, Arnold nor Mazzini. Variant of the type in Kelly, without dots, porous VF, lot 1370, 2nd coin, lot estimate £100–150. -------------------------------------
Wonderful -- and scarce -- subcollection! Congratulations on all the work you went to in order to assemble it!
Where we draw the line between a different mint and a different cutter in the same room is one that troubles me regularly.
Doug, thanks for sharing your lovely examples here. I'm especially intrigued by the VICTORIA AVG coin with the solid letter O that looks almost like a globe!
Beautiful serie from OP I have no Eastern coins, only a few Roman. This is one of them. Find the bull RIC 88, RSC 61. Elagabalus, denarius. Obv. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, horned, draped and bearded bust right. Rev. INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG, Elagabalus standing half left, branch in left, offering from patera in right over altar, recumbent bull behind altar, star left.
All are exceptionally lovely coins! I have just one of his from an eastern mint, but it's one of my favorite coins. Elagabalus AR denarius, 19.4 mm, 3.5 gm Antioch, 218-219 CE Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev: SANCT DEO SOLI / ELAGABAL, Quadriga right, bearing sacred Baetyl stone, flanked by four parasols Ref: RIC IV 195 Vauctions 310, lot 250 (25 Sept 2014) ex CNG Mail Bid Sale 33, lot 914 (15 March 1995) CT writeup .
I have a single RSC 22. Elagabalus denarius Obv:– ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate draped bust right Rev:– CON-SVL II P P, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopia Minted in Antioch, A.D. 218-219 Reference:– RIC 167. RSC 22
