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

Elagabalus, denarius, silver, reign 218–222, minted 218–222, 3.15 g, 19 mm. Obverse: Laureate, draped, and horned bust right, legend IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Reverse: Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing over a lighted tripod, holding patera in right hand and club in left; behind, tripod with bull lying down; star in left field, legend INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG. Strike: Centered strike on regular flan with complete legends visible. Toning: Light silver-grey toning with minor darker areas in recessed fields. References: RIC IV Elagabalus 88b. This denarius was issued during the reign of Elagabalus, a Roman emperor who ruled from 218 to 222. The obverse portrait with a horned crown and the reverse depiction of sacrificial ritual symbolize his role as high priest of the sun god Elagabal, whose cult he introduced in Rome. The star on the reverse is linked to solar imagery. Coins of this type reflect the emperor’s emphasis on religious themes and his attempt to integrate the Emesan deity into Roman state worship. These issues were struck at the Rome mint and circulated widely within the empire during his reign.