Dear All, This emperor has such a fantastic history, need to buy a book about him, was he mad or.....not? lived his live too the fullest that is for sure. See some coins from him, please post your coins !! Elagabalus was born Varius Avitus Bassianus in AD 203 or 204 at Emesa in Syria. He was the son of the Syrian Sextus Varius Marcellus, who had become senator during the reign of Caracalla and Julia Soaemias. It was though his mother that Elagabalus should enjoy astounding connections. For his maternal grandmother was Julia Maesa, widow to the consul Julius Avitus. She was the younger sister of Julia Domna, widow of Septimius Severus and mother of Geta and Caracalla. Elagabalus held the hereditary rank of high priest to the Syrian sun god El-Gabal (or Baal).
Excellent haul, particularly the bronzes! I'm particularly fond of the purported perv 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 Brief history of Elagabalus and this coin PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus CE 218-222 AE29, 13.4 gm Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748 More about this coin and the reverse scene MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum Elagabalus, CE 218-222 AE 18 mm, 2.8 gm Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩ NΠPOCICTPO N, Priapus standing left, drawing back his cloak to expose his phallus, bowl of fruit balanced on phallus, right hand extended pouring from patera Ref: Varbanov 3811, AMNG 2022 MOESIA INFERIOR. Nikopolis ad Istrum Elagabalus , CE 218-222 AE 26 mm, 11.1 gm Obv: AYT K M AYP ANTΩNEINOC. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: VΠ NOBIOV POVΦOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTPON. River-god reclining right, holding branch; prow at side Ref: Varbanov 4055 ex Falter Collection, Nature Gods probably Elagabalus: MESOPOTAMIA, Edessa Elagabalus, CE 218-222 AE27, 15 gm Obv: AVT K M A ANTΩNEINOC; radiate cuirassed bust left, holding shield and raising right hand. Rev: AVP ........ EΔECCA; Tyche seated left on rock, holding corn ears; to left a column surmounted by a statue of Marsyas, river god swimming right at feet Ref: Mionnet supplement 8, 26. Very rare. Mionnet is the only work which lists this coin with a column on the left. This coin was in a large mixed lot and had no attribution. It has driven me a little crazy but I'm reasonably certain of the attribution. Mionnet entry:
Hello Tif, the one from Edessa I also bought it is in the mail for a bargain, when I have it I will post it? but still I think it is Caracalla, it looks sim. to yours. The chariot with the stone carrying true Rome is a fantastic coin!!
My favorite "nutball" emperor. ROme wasnt short of them. Elagabalus (218-222 A.D.) AR Denarius Struck 220-222 AD. O: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust right, horn on head. R: SACRED DEI SOLIS ELAGAB, Elagabalus standing right, holding branch (?) and sacrificing from patera over lighted altar; star in right field. RIC IV 131; BMCRE 225 note; RSC 246 Rome mint 19mm 3.5g
I agree that the portrait looks like Caracalla. As best as I can tell though, from old references, it is Elagabalus. Maybe your coin will allow us to more accurately determine the emperor. I'm looking forward to seeing it!
what happened to the Emesa Holy stone that felt from the sky & given by the gods? it is still existing?
Unknown, other than "returned to Syria". One rumor is that the sacred stone of El Gabal is now enshrined at Mecca... the Black Stone in the Kaaba at Mecca. (The internet is a fun place )
Elagabalus (218 - 222 A.D.) SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch Billon Tetradrachm O: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤWΝΕΙΝΟC CEB Laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder. R: ∆ΗΜΑΡΧ. ΕΞ. ΥΠΑΤΟC. TO. B. Eagle standing facing, head turned to r., wings spread, holding wreath in beak; ∆ − Ε across upper fields, star between legs. Antioch Mint 13.99 g 24 mm McAlee 761; Prieur 254.
Nice coins, especially tets. Elagabalus, Denarius Rome mint, ca AD 218-219 IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right 3.49 gr Ref : Cohen # 109v, RCV # 7526, RIC # 123 Elagabalus, Tetradrachm Antioch mint AUT K M A ANTWNEINOC CEB, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder, seen from front DHMARC EX UPATOC TO B =twice consul =219 A.D., eagle standing facing, wings spread, head left, wreath in beak, star beneath, Delta and epsilon in field 14,11 gr Ref : Prieur #251_012, Sear #3096 Q
Nice coins. An emperor with a range of interesting coins. Elagabalus Antoninianus(one of my earliest ancients) Obv:– IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust right Rev:– MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right, holding trophy and spear References:– VM 7, RIC 122 (Scarce), RCV02 7491, RSC 112 Elagabalus Denarius Obv:– IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, horned, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG, Elagabalus standing holding patera over an altar and branch. Star in right field. Horn on ground to his left Minted in Rome. A.D. 222 Reference– BMC 209 note. RIC 87 (where it is rated Common citing Cohen). RSC III 58. Cohen 58 (illustrated with star in right field) valued at 50 Fr. No examples in RD. ex Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Sale 42, Lot 379, 20th November 2007, ex Barry Feirstein Collection, previously privately purchased from Harlan J. Berk. Described as Lightly toned and good extremely fine by NAC. 21 mm. 3.11 gms. 0 degrees. The coin would certainly seem to be scarcer than the "Common" rating given in RIC would imply. No examples in RD, only one example on acsearch (this coin). No examples on Wildwinds (the RIC 87 there would appear to be in error).
Terrific posts!!! And I couldn't agree more!!! I understand that the 'perve' liked dressing up as women?? I guess he and Nero had some of the same 'tastes' in fashion ??? LOL I now have two examples of Elagabalus---a Billon TeT I purchased from Mat and a denarius as posted below:
Great examples, cyrrhus (oh, and others) ... coingrats!! Yah, I still only have two Elagabalus examples ... but I still like 'em Elagabalus AR Tetradrachm Elagabalus & Eagle w. wreath Elagabalus AR Denarius Elagabalus & Fortuna
I did come across a book on Elagabalus, it had lousy reviews and implied that the writer had just nicked stuff off Wiki. If you are tempted to buy any book, read the reviews first
Are you referring to The Amazing Emperor Heliogabalus by John Stuart Hay? I bought the digital edition. It was moderately interesting although very speculative.
The first of these 2 coins has Tyche in shrine on the reverse, with LAD(Ladocea)to left- BMC 101. The second has Delta Epsilon on the reverse.