Elagabalus, denarius, silver, reign 218-222, minted 218-222

Elagabalus, denarius, silver, reign 218-222, minted 218-222, weight 3.15 g, diameter 19 mm. Obverse: Horned, laureate, draped bust right; legend IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Reverse: Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing over a tripod, holding patera and club; behind, tripod and bull lying down; star in field; legend INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG. Struck at Rome. Even strike, light cabinet toning. References: RIC IV Elagabalus 88b. This denarius was issued during the reign of Elagabalus, who served as Roman emperor from 218 to 222. The obverse portrait with a horn reflects his role as high priest of the sun god Elagabal, a position he held alongside his imperial authority. The reverse depicts the emperor performing a sacrificial rite, indicating his emphasis on religious imagery and the prominence of the Elagabal cult during his reign. This coin type is one of the primary numismatic sources illustrating the integration of his religious identity into official state propaganda.