Imperial Roman Coins of Elagabalus

Click for my main page on Elagabalus. A collage of these coins.

The following are the coins of Elagabalus in my collection that were minted at an Imperial mint. Most were minted at Rome. All coins are kept in a safety deposit box or a fireproof safe for security purposes.

A few notes. The "horn" on top of Elagabalus' head was introduced in 221 AD at the same time as 4 denarii reverses were introduced showing him in Syrian priestly dress sacrificing to the god Elagabal and disappeared a couple of months before his murder in 222 AD. See the SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG coin for a horned example and the P M TR P V COS IIII PP example for one of his very last coins, unhorned. For a great discussion of this see forumancientcoins.com. The coin denomination antoninianus (wikipedia) was thought to be valued at 2 denarii (wikipedia) and was designated by a radiate bust verses a laureate bust. It was a fairly recent addition created by Caracalla in 215 AD and started at about half again of the weight of a denarius.

Using the following and knowing when the honors were given to an emperor, it is possible to figure out the date range when a coin might have been struck:

P M = Pontifex Maximus: High Priest or Chief Pontif

TR P = Tribunitia Potestas: The Tribunal Power for the first time

TR P II = Tribunitia Potestas: The Tribunal Power for the second time

COS I = Consul for the first time "...from an early spelling... cosol" (Lawrence Keppie)

COS II = Consul for the second time, etc.

PP = Pater Patriae Father of the Fatherland, or Father of our country

According to the Dictionary of Roman Coins under Elagabalus, he was proclaimed Emperor in A.V.C. 971 (A.D. 218) at age 13. "After having entered Antioch as conqueror, he addressed to the Senate letters in which, without waiting for the decree of that body, he assumed the titles of "Caesar, son of Antoninus, grandson of Severus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pro-consul, and invested with the Tribunitian power." At the same time, he named himself consul in the place of Macrinus." So from the very beginning in 218, even though he wasn't in Rome yet, His coins started with P M TR P COS P P which can be translated to 218 AD. When wintering in Nicomedia he was consul for the second time so COS II would be 219. In 220 he was consul for the third (COS III). In 221 he was consul for the fourth (COS IIII). Even though he lived until March 6th, and the Tribunal Power increased by 1 on his coins to TR P V, the consul was COS IIII. "Morover the ancient tribunate, according to the usual course of law, was only an annual office, entered upon fourth ides of December in each year. Whereas the tribunitian power of the emperors was perpetual, and decreed to them at any period whatsoever of the year...The right of investing the emperors with the power of the tribunate belonged to the senatorial body..." (Numiswiki) " That the tribunitian power of the emperors from Augustus to Antoninus Pius was renewed yearly on the same day of the year on which it was first conferred; and that from Antoninus Pius down to Gallienus it was renewed on the calends of January in each year." This is how on certain coins the Tribunal Power count is the same as consul count, and that on certain coins the Tribunal Power count moved forward as the year had changed to January, but the consul count did not move forward as the senate hadn't yet voted to bestow.

A book that I have referenced on Roman dating and other subjects is Understanding Roman Inscriptions, By Lawrence Keppie (Google book link, owned).

Silver Antoninianus.

This is #1. Literally. In Roman Imperial Coinage, Book IVb, under Elagabalus, this is the first coin listed. RIC IVb-001.

Obverse: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: P M TR P COS P P, Roma seated left holding Victory and scepter, shield at side. Diameter is 21 mm and is 5.43 g, die axis 180 deg. Minted in Rome 218 AD. Reference: RIC-1f, Sear [2002] 7493, BMCRE-3, RSC-126, T-9

Silver Antoninianus.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS AVG Radiate bust right, draped and cuirassed.

Reverse: P M TR P II COS II P P, Providentia standing left legs crossed, holding rod and cornucopiae, leaning on column, globe at feet. Diameter is 23 mm and is 3.29 g, die axis 170 deg. Minted 219 AD in Rome. Reference RIC IVb-22f, Sear [2002] 7496, RSC 146

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust right.

Reverse: P M TR P III COS III P P. Jupiter, naked to the waist, seated left on throne, holding Victory and sceptre; at feet, an eagle. Diameter is 19 mm and is 3.05 g, die axis 345 deg. Minted 220 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVb-27, Sear-7532 [2002], RSC 151

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate and draped bust right.

Reverse: P M TR P III COS III P P, Sol naked exsept for a cloak, advancing left, raising right hand and holding a whip in left, star in field. Diameter is 20 mm and is 2.22 g, die axis 30 deg. Minted in 220 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVb 28b, Sear [2002] 7533, RSC 154

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: P M TR P IIII COS III P P, Sol standing left, holding right hand up in salute and in other hand, a whip; 'star' in right field. Diameter is 19 mm and is 2.71 g, die axis 0 deg. Minted 221 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC-IVb 40b, Cohen-184, Sear [2002] 7533v, v = TR P IIII in lieu of TR P III

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: P M TR P V COS IIII P P Elagabalus std. l., sacrificing out of patera over lighted altar and holding a club in left hand, star in field left. Diameter is 19 mm and is 2.98 g, die axis 180 deg. Minted 222 AD in Rome. This was one of Elagabalus' last coins as this reverse legend didn't start to be minted until Feb 222 AD and he was murdered on March 6th, 222AD. Reference: RIC-IVb 52, Sear-7538, RSC 213a

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: FORTVNAE REDVCI Fortuna standing, holding rudder and cornucopia. Diameter is 20 mm and is 2.81 g, die axis 180 deg. Minted from 220-221 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVb-83a, Sear-7516, BMCRE 205, RSC 50a, T 248

FORTVNAE REDVCI (Numiswiki) Fortune Returns

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter, at his feet to the left, an eagle, and behind him on the right, one Legionary standard. Diameter 19 mm and is 2.64 g, die axis 185 deg. Minted 219 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVii, 91b, Sear 7519 [2002], Cohen 68. I had RIC 91. the online version only shows 91b which matches, and 91d with same wording, no examples so I'm leaving it at 91b

IOVI CONSERVATORI (Numiswiki): Jupiter the Protector.

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: PAX AVGVSTI Pax advancing left, holding olive branch and rod. Diameter is 20 mm and is 2.49 g, die axis 350 deg. Minted 220 AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVb, 125, Sear-7527 [2002]

PAX AVGVSTI (Numiswiki link going to PAX AVG): Pax Augusta.----August Peace. Peace of the emperor

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped.

Reverse: SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB Elagabalus in priestly robes sacrificing right over lighted altar and holding cypress branch. Star in right field. Diameter is 20 mm and is 2.76 g, die axis 195 deg. Minted from 221-222 AD in Rome. Reference RIC IVb-131, Sear-7542, RSC-246, BMC 225, T 302.

SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB (Numiswiki under SARERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB) "Priest of the Sun-God Elagabalus"

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Horned, laureate draped and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing over lighted tripod, holding patera and branch, star to left. Diameter is 18 mm and is 2.81 g, die axis 170 deg. Minted between 221-222AD in Rome. Reference: RIC IVb-146b, Cohen-276. RIC-146 vs RIC-147 seems to be standard, vs horned. There is a break where the horn would be, and there is something there. Above links don't show any examples for 147 and some of the 146 appear to have the "horn"

SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG (Numiswiki) Indicate the worship paid by the emperor called Elagabalus to his namesake Elagabalus (Heliogabalus)

Silver Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped (and cuirassed) bust right. (This example without cuirass)

Reverse: VICTORIA AVG Victory flying left, holding diadem in both hands; on each side, a small shield; in field, star. 21 mm. 2.98 g die axis 330 degrees Common. (Cohen 300; Tinchant Collection) RIC IVb-161, SEAR 7554, BMCRE 234, RSC 300(a?), T 319 (T = M. Thirion, Le Monnayage d’Elagabale (218-222), Brussels and Amsterdam, 1968). Minted between 220-221 AD in Rome.

Some variants have the star in the field to the right, this one is to the left. RIC 161 just says star in field. Sometimes RIC 161 seems to point to RSC 300 and others RSC 300a, but I’m not sure of the difference. (RSC = Roman Silver Coins Volume III: PERTINAX TO BALBINUS AND PUPIENUS, London, 1982). I have the newer Sear volume, not this one. Wildwinds RIC 161 RSC 300 Sear 7554

The difference between RIC IVb-161b (draped) and RIC IVb-161d (draped and cuirassed) comes down to the cuirassed part. I used the glossary of coin terms to land on just draped.

VICTORIA AVG (Numiswiki) [Dedicated to] the Victory of the Emperor(s)

Silver Denarius. This is one of my rarest coins.

Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG Laureate bust right.

Reverse: CONCORDIA MILIT Two standards between two vexilla. Diameter is 20.3 mm and is 3.14 g, die axis 0 deg. Minted in Antioch, Syria between 218-219 AD. Not in RIC or Sear. Similar to RIC 187 or Sear 7505, however Sear 7505 is missing the IX in FELIX and is laureate and draped rather than just laureate. RIC 187 is missing the IX from FELIX as well (and is draped and cuirassed). I have seen several examples of a similar coin to mine on internet sites, with ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG attributed to RIC 187, even though the legend doesn't match, however all of those examples have the version Laureate, draped and cuirassed. 1 of 2 examples that I've been able to find that matches mine completely has been on wildwinds, though it mistakenly gives the legend as ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG. I posted this coin to the yahoo group ACFDL Ancient Coins Fakes and Deceptions because I saw one with a die match, though different wear on the http://www.forgerynetwork.com. (ACFDL still exists, but has much less activity than it had). The only complaint was that somebody on the CDFL list said that it was a suspected fake. I conversed with a couple of extremely knowledgeable people on the ACFDL list including Professor T.V. Buttrey, Department of Coins and Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University and Curtis Clay at Harlan J. Berk, Ltd and they are convinced that the coin that I have looks authentic. From Professor Ted Buttrey: The coin looks perfectly fine to me. The reverse type is well-known (3 examples in the British Museum, BMCRE 5 p.573 nos.274-276; we have 2). It's the obverse that's unusual. Elagabal didn't have many obvs with simple laureate bust (as against laureate + draped or cuirassed) although BMC 276 has such with this reverse, not illustrated. What is particularly unusual is the simple laureate bust, obv legend with FELIX rather than FEL. For that obv there is only 1 piece in the BM with rev of Triumphal car and SANCT DEO SOLI ELAGABAL, not the same obv die as your piece. The BMC doesn't otherwise know your obv variety at all so it must be pretty uncommon. From Curtis Clay: I agree with Ted B., the coin looks authentic, though I could not locate the Forgery Network piece for comparison. The Eastern denarii of Elagabalus with FELIX in obv. legend are all scarce, whether the bust type is head only or draped and cuirassed. I have plaster casts of five other denarii exactly like yours, indeed all are from the same die pair as yours... The forgerynetwork coin is another genuine one, again from the same dies... Curtis Clay

Searching on Numismatics.org I do get a hit on Elagabalus from Antioch, Syria, but both the obverse and reverse images differ. The Reverse matches with RIC 187d, but the obverse of 187d is missing the IX in FELIX (and is draped and cuirassed).

CONCORDIA MILIT (Numiswiki) The Concord of the Armies

The following is a limes denarius. They were used in the area just outside official Roman territory. One theory is that was that they were similar to military script, redeemable for standard coin within Roman territory, however if the coins were captured in a defeat, they would not lose as much precious metal. There are a variety of other thoughts about them.

Limes Denarius.

Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed, horned.

Reverse: P M TR P IIII COS III P P Elagabalus standing left, holding cypress branch and patera over altar sacrificing; a 'star' in left field. Diameter is 20 mm and is 2.66 g, die axis 345 deg. Reference (as if sliver): RIC IVb-46d, Sear [2002] 7536, Cohen-196. Note: If this was minted at the same time that they were using P M TR P IIII COS III P P in Rome, it would have been minted in 221AD.

Reverse Legends of Elagabalus' Imperial Coins page

RIC list of Elagabalus' Coins page (basically this page plus the ones I'm missing)

A collage of these coins.

Click for my main page on Elagabalus provincials from Markianopolis as well as more information about Elagabalus.

Click for my Imperial Roman Coins Homepage.

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