LOT #65070 |
Current Bid: $105
Roman Imperial: Elagabalus (AD 218-222). AR denarius (19mm, 5h). NGC AU....
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Description
Elagabalus (AD 218-222). AR denarius (19mm, 5h). NGC AU. Rome, AD 221-222. IMP ANTONINVS-PIVS AVG, horned, laureate, draped bust of Elagabalus right, seen from front / SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG, Elagabalus in priestly dress, standing facing, head left, sacrificing from patera in outstretched right hand over lit altar at feet before, branch in lowered left hand; star in left field. RIC IV.II 88.Elagabalus, the posthumous nickname for Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, was emperor at fourteen years old and died at eighteen. Despite his short tenure, rumors abound about his lifestyle as a teenage emperor. His grandmother, Julia Maesa, spread rumors that he was the son of Caracalla, a rumor supposedly confirmed by his mother, Julia Soaemias, and Cassius Dio recounts that the young ruler had four wives, including a Vestal Virgin, and male courtiers who were rumored to be his lovers. He brought the Stone of Emesa to Rome, as is featured on some issues of his coinage, which was a religiously controversial decision. When he fell out of favor, his mother and grandmother orchestrated for him to take Severus Alexander as his heir, which he unsuccessfully tried to undo. When he attempted an overreach of political violence, members of the Praetorian Guard killed Elagabalus and his mother, Julia Soaemias, and dragged their bodies through the streets.
Auction Info
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction #232544 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
October
29th
Wednesday
6:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
October
29th-30th
Wednesday-Thursday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
2 Days
23h 30m 16s
Internet/Mail Bids: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: 8
Page Views: 49
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This lot is in: 1 -
World & Ancient Coins Session
(Lots 65001-65099) - 7:00 PM Central Time, Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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