Elagabalus Victory denarius

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Thanks a lot. Yes, that is what I think as well. The celators had no picture of the young Elagabalus, who was still in Emesa, and hence used a portrait that was closer to a clean shaven Macrinus than a 14-year old Elagabal. I also find the depiction of Victory with these long curls rather interesting.

As a reminder, this is the coin we are referring to:

 

Interesting, is there any historical evidence for the use of military scrip in the Roman army? Who would have accepted bronze denari instead of silver?

 

The best definition i found is here.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=limes denarius

I bought my limes from a lot because I had no Elagabalus coins. I thought it's an official AE. Well, close enough.

 

Very nice, Andres. I really like the VICTOR ANTONINI type, for the reason that Doug mentions.

ELAGABALUS
AR Antoninianus. 4.21g, 22.8mm. Rome mint, AD 219. RIC 152; RSC 294. O: IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind. R: VICTOR ANTONINI AVG, Victory advancing right with palm branch and wreath.
Ex Michael Kelly Collection

 

No Elagabalus Victory reverse types for me, sad to say. Here's an antoninianus, though:


Elagabalus, AD 218-222.
Roman AR Antoninianus, 5.17 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 219.
Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right.
Rev: P M TR PII COSII P P, Fortuna enthroned left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae; wheel below seat.
Refs: RIC 18; BMCRE 94; Cohen 148; RCV 7495.

 

Elagabalus is certainly an interesting figure, with all the stories about his deprived and outrageous behaviour. As is the case so often, it is not clear if all these stories were true or if these were exaggerations to damage his reputation and justify his murder. After all he was only about 18 years old when he was killed.

In any case, the numismatic evidence seem to confirm that Elagabalus was an extravagant and exotic exception who will like have shocked the Roman elite:

First, there are his titles as priest (SACERDOS) of the sun god:

I have the INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG variety:



and the SVMMUS SACERDOS AVG



An emperor, who paraded around as priest in exotic eastern dress must have alienated a lot of Romans.

Second, the first coin shows the famous "horn", which some say is a bull's penis. If true, this would certainly have been cause for outrage.

Imagine Elagabalus in his priestly garb, possibly even wearing the "horn" at the Mars-field "parade" in 222. Battle hardened soldiers starting to mock him for it. Eventually the situation got out of hand. The sources say Elagabalus sought refuge in a latrine, where the outraged soldiers found him and hacked im to pieces. Than again, his murder was perhaps planned by his grandmother Julia Maesa who sought to replace the unpopular Elagabal with Severus Alexander.

Judging by the coins above, this is a fairly plausible reconstruction of his face:

 

I don't have many coins of his. A denarius and a syrophenician tetradrachm :


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

 

@Tejas Doesn't the read IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG? which would make it Severus Alexander.....

Here is a dated Victory type, just because I haven't seen one in this thread so far. Slightly unusual as it seems to have a star in both left and right fields......

Obv:- IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate draped bust right
Rev:- P M TRP IIII COS III P P, Victory flying left holding open wreath, star in both left and right fields!!!
Minted in Rome.
Reference:- RIC 45, RSC 195a, BMC 251

 

You are right, I somehow kept it with the Elagabal coins. It is Alexander Severus. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

From that definition I take a possibility that they served a similar purpose, if not t military scrip, then to those US wartime Hawaii and North Africa notes - legal tender but distinct enough that they could be demonetized at a moments notice if needed. Something like that maybe

 

Lovely coin @Andres2. Coins of Elagabalus are enjoyable to collect. I have two coins of Elagabalus to add:

 

Finally came up in this thread , the stone of Emesa. Some day I hope to add one in my collection.Thanks for posting Limes.

The only other denarius I have:

 

I always wondered if Limes were struck in tough military conflict / border areas that there was a risk of losing precious metal out of the empire...

LIMES


RI Hadrian, AD 117-138 Æ Limes Denarius 18mm 3.5mm after AD 125 Genius stndg sacrificing altar cornucopia RIC II 173

 

Several Antoniniani of this boy-emperor including "happy days" (temporum felicitas), Victoria, Laetitia Publica, and fides exercitus or faithfulness of the army. Seems quite ironic since none of the aforementioned was true!

 

My Elagabalus denarius, with Salus in reverse.

 

There are a number of splendid Elagabalus coins in this thread. Tejas' examples of unusual and/or transitional early portraits strike me as particularly interesting.

My own Elagabalus Victory is more pedestrian:

Elagabalus, Roman Empire, denarius, 218–222 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG; bust of Elagabalus, draped and laureate, r. Rev: VICTORIA AVG; Victory flying l. between two shields, holding open diadem.19mm, 1.96g. Ref: RIC IV Elagabalus 161.

 

Denarius of Elagabalus, Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG “Emperor Antoninus dutiful, patriotic augustus” Reverse: PM TRP II COS II P P “Pontifex Maximus (highest priest of Roman religion TRibunicia Potestate (Tribune of the Roman people) II (second year as Tribune) COS II (Consul chief magistrate of the Roman Government, second time he has held this position, which dates the coin at 219 AD) Pater Patriae (father of his country). Sol standing, right hand raised, holding a whip. RIC 17, RSC 134.

Here is Elagabalus' mother who was as sex crazed as he was. They died together and their bodies were tossed unceremoniously into the Tiber River.



Denarius of Julia Soaemias, Obverse: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG “Julia Soaemias augusta.” Reverse: VENVS CAELESTIS “Venus of heaven.” Venus, goddess of love, holding an apple and scepter. Ric 242, Sear 7721

Julia Paula was his first wife. She was an aristocratic girl who refused to get involved with him in his perverted lifestyle.



Denarius of Julia Paula, Obverse: IVLIA PAVLA AUG “Julia Paula augusta.” Reverse: CONCORDIA “Concordia” Concordia, personification of harmony and concord seated on a throne holding patera with arm resting on throne, star in left field. Ric 211, Sear 7655

Aquilia Severa may have been the only woman Elagabalus truly loved, maybe because she was "forbidden fruit." She was a Vestal Virgin who had taken a vow of chastity. Their marriage was a major scandal. His grandmother, Julia Maesa, broke up the marriage, but Elagabalus went back to her.



Denarius of Julia Aquilia Severa, Obverse: IVLIA AQUILIA SEVERA AVG “Julia Aquilia Severa, augusta.” Reverse: CONCORDIA “Concordia” The personification Concordia standing sacrificing over a lighted altar, holding a double cornucopia. RIC 226, Sear 7679

And grandma Julia Maesa, who came to the reluctant decision that she had to do in her daughter and grandson for the good of the family business.



Denarius of Julia Maesa, Obverse: IVLIA MAESA AVG “Julia Maesa augusta” Reverse: SAECVLI FELICITAS “Age of good fortune.” Personification Felicitas (happiness and prosperity) sacrificing at an altar. Ric 268, Sear 7757