Elagabalus, 218 – 222
Aureus 220-222, AV 20 mm, 6.58 g. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. C – ONSERVATOR AVG Slow quadriga l., on which is the Stone of Emesa surmounted by eagle; in upper l. field, star. C 18. Mazzini 18 (this coin). BMC 197. RIC 61. Calicó 2988a (these dies). Extremely rare. An historically important and fascinating issue with a portrait of fine style. About extremely fine

Ex Rollin & Feuardent 26 May 1909, Evans, 225; Nummorum Auctions IV, 1996, 283; Triton XX, 2017, 806 and Heritage 3094, 2021, 32061 sales. From the Mazzini, Continental, and Monaco collections.

Graded Ch XF Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5, NCG certification number 6029809-006

Few emperors are known almost exclusively for their peculiarities and perversions, but on the short list of qualified applicants, Elagabalus rises to the top. The 19th Century antiquarian S.W. Stevenson, ever a delight for his artfully delivered comments, did not fail to deliver in his summary of Elagabalus whom he called: "...the most cruel and infamous wretch that ever disgraced humanity and polluted a throne...". Elagabalus and his family had lived in Rome during the reign of Caracalla, who was rumoured to have been Elagabalus' natural father. When Caracalla was murdered, his prefect and successor, Macrinus, recalled the family to their homeland of Syria. Upon arriving, Elagabalus assumed his role as hereditary priest of the Emesan sun-god Heliogabalus. For the Roman soldiers in the vicinity, who engaged in the common practice of solar worship, and who had fond memories of the slain Caracalla, Elagabalus was an ideal candidate for emperor. He soon was hailed emperor against Macrinus, who was defeated in a pitched battle just outside Antioch. Conservative Rome was introduced to their new emperor's eccentricities and religious fervour when they learned of his overland journey from Emesa to Rome, not only taking more than a year but with a sacred stone in tow. The coin shows this sacred conical stone of Emesa – in all likelihood a meteorite – being transported in a chariot drawn by four horses. The stone usually is emblazoned with an eagle, which on the Rome piece is uncommonly bold.