Elagabalus Sestertius of Fortuna - RARE!?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Blake Davis, Dec 6, 2020.

  1. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

     
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  3. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    Oddly enough the ACSEARCH site lists only three examples of Elagabalus sestertii with a Salus reverse, with 13 different Quadriga types - but Elagabalus struck the quadriga type in different years. The site only has three examples with Mars reverse. Rarity is a fluid (lack of a better word) in this field. Still I have been looking high and low for an affordable sestertius of Elagabalus with Mars reverse for years - maybe the way to phrase it is that I have a better chance of finding one than a quadriga or Adventus (also on my list) reverse.
     
  4. curtislclay

    curtislclay Well-Known Member

    Blake,

    I know a number of specimens of this VICTORIAE BRITANNUCAE sestertius of Septimius Severus:

    Berlin
    Sch. Kreditanstalt 3, lot 625
    CNG E191, 9 July 2008, J.S. Wagner Coll., lot 284
    My coll., ex CGB Paris, July 2017.

    Congratulations on acquiring one! I was waiting to comment until you posted your promised fuller discussion.
     
  5. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    A few month back I purchased an Elagabalus sestertius from a Spanish seller with LIBERALITAS AUGUSTIIII with the last “I” not very well struck - i do not see this type in RIC. The last “I” could have been an error and the die engraver may have tried to remove - although it is also quite clear.

    When I have some time I will do a die search of the obverse and and post the coin here. The rather thin fabric of the flan is consistent with the later typea I have of Elagabalus- in fact the flan is larger strongly resembles my IMP V. The thinness of the flan also led a crack in the flan - I really have to post it.

    I have really become fascinated by the coinage of Elagabalus - hopefully there will be more interesting types offered for sale.
     
  6. curtislclay

    curtislclay Well-Known Member

    Blake,

    Bust type should decide between those two or three possibilities:

    LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI II or III: portrait unbearded, bust seen from back. No such AVGVSTI III sestertii or middle bronzes have yet been recorded, however.

    LIBERALITAS AVGVSTI IIII: portrait bearded, bust seen from front. Again, no such AVGVSTI IIII sestertii or middle bronzes have yet been recorded. Only AVGVSTI II, not III or IIII, is so far known on bronze coins.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
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  7. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    Curtis - thanks again! I will try to photograph the coin and put it up tonight - you might be able to see it on this link on ebay:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roman-Empi...-20-92-gr-Liberalitas-Augusti-II/223968487842

    The transaction number can also be used if you search sold coins. The coin is heavily smoothed but I was delighted with the purchase since I have been unable to find an example anywhere else.

    I have one other question - you had mentioned on your post about sestertii of Juli Domna from the period that the Rome mint had ceased making sestertii for every day use. How were you able to identify (other than these being extremely rare) the coins struck for the empress during this period? Thanks again! Blake
     
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  8. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    Let me add one other detail - the extra "I" is muich more clear on the coin than the photograph - I suspect it was an error, but interesting all the same
     
  9. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    I can’t believe it took me this long to respond - I love the blue patina
    I love the blue patina on the first coin, and you are correct, it is rare - I think I did a brief write up on the type on this site on my fairly worn example. The patina on the second coin is really nice as well - I have to check but I believe one of the sestertii I have of his is a die match to the obverse of this coin - but It may be a different reverse. Sestertii of Elagabalus are indeed difficult to find. I had hoped to do a trade with a friend for one with an Adventus reverse but it seems to have fallen through. So I keep searching…
     
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  10. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    This information has been incredibly useful in my study of E’s coinage!
     
  11. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I missed this thread when it was first posted.

    Beautiful coin, Blake! Wonderful portrait.

    Oooh, fabulous medallion!
     
  12. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    You are right about the examples you list being rare - I have been looking for similar types for sale since this post and have only found one example of Adventus, which I should have tried to buy but finances were not ideal at the time, and a Liberalitas type which I did purchase. I am waiting for a sestertius with “LIBERAL AVG” reverse (not the platform type unfortunately) to come in the mail after which I am going to post the entire collection which now numbers 18 different types, representing an on again off again 15 year effort. One of the highlights is a sestertius with the emperor seated holding a globe - RIC 304, not the rarest type, but not common either.

    Despite scouring the listings, no luck finding another MARS VICTOR” - I still cannot believe I sold my one example because it was in a lower grade.

    I did manage to find an example with a Salus Reverse - and in an unusual place.
     
  13. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    There is an interesting LIBERALITAS type up now in a catalog sale. I have looked at the few examples of this type that are online - Including the BEAUTIFUL one posted in this thread - I am going to post my example this afternoon - it ALMOST looks like LIBERALITAS AUGUSTIIII - the last "I" is kind of faint but it is there, probably a mistake by the celator.
     
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