Obverse: IMP ANTONINVS AVG; Laureate and
Draped Bust of the Emperor Facing Right
Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter, Standing
to the Left, Holding a Thunderbolt and a Sceptre,
an Eagle Stands at his Feet, Two Standards
Behind Him
Elagabalus became emperor through the
diligence and bravery of his grandmother, Julia
Maesa. A powerful and immensely wealthy
woman of the Severan family, she incited the
Syrian legions stationed at Emesa to revolt
against Macrinus in favor of her grandson.
Although his Roman name was Bassianus,
Elagabalus derives from his position as high
priest of Elagabal, the Syrian god Ba’al.
Elagabalus was one of the more scandalous
rulers in Roman history. He was famed for
hosting wild parties where overindulgence of all
types was encouraged. The Eastern gods he
brought to Rome were strange even to the
permissive Roman society of the day. Perhaps his
most offensive act was marrying a Vestal Virgin.
To the Romans this act of Elagabalus not only
desecrated their religion, but also their heritage.
Julia Maesa attempted to regain control of the
situation by having her other grandson, Severus
Alexander, declared Caesar. When Elagabalus
revoked this promotion, the Praetorian Guard,
encouraged by Julia Maesa, rebelled against their
emperor, hunted down, and executed Elagabalus.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. This ancient coin is a memorial
an emperor’s brief reign passed from the hands
of civilization to civilization, from generation to
generation that still appears as vibrant today as
the day it was struck.
- (C.6251)
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