ELAGABAL denarius SANCT DEO SOLI ELAGABAL

[fred]

http://www.fredericweber.com/collection_frederic_weber/elagabal_sanct_deo_soli.jpg
Details : http://www.fredericweber.com/collection_frederic_weber/elagabal_den_sanct_deo_soli_elagabal.htm

This coin is in my collection.

With this obverse laureate, draped and cuirassed, this type is unpublished. I know 3 exemples of this coin.

The style of the obverse is different than other coins with that reverse, but it's an issue from Antioch mint too.

The closest coin is the RIC is #144, but for Roma's mint and on that coin the bust is not cuirassed. I never seen any exemple of RIC 144, and I'm interested to see a picture if someone know one exemple ! Is RIC 144 wrongly described and attributed to Roma ?

[curtislclay]

Mattingly had not seen a specimen of this coin, so it was simple carelessness on his part to attribute it to Rome in RIC.

The legend IMP ANTONINVS AVG occurs on two series of denarii under Elagabalus:

1. A series in close to Roman style, which BMC attributes to Rome, but which I think is from a branch mint using engravers from the mint of Rome.

2. An Eastern series, in non-Roman style, using for the most part the same reverse types as the Eastern denarii with obv. legend ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG.

Now the type SANCT DEO SOLI ELAGABAL is well known on Eastern denarii with obv. legend ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, so if the same type is reported with obv. IMP ANTONINVS AVG, which mint is it likely to belong to? Obviously the Eastern mint, not the one using Roman style!

This supposition is confirmed by the specimens of the coin that have emerged since Mattingly's time. They are in exactly the style of the Eastern mint, and moreover share their obv. dies with other types that are undoubtedly of that mint.

Your spec. shares its obv. die with two coins among my plaster casts, both with the Eastern rev. CONSVL II P P, Aequitas standing.

A spec. in my own coll. and several others seen in trade share their obv. die with the Eastern rev. type VOTA PVBLICA, Emperor sacrificing over altar.

I doubt that the specimen of this coin reported by Cohen really showed the bust draped only; this will be a mere error of reporting. ALL of the Eastern denarii with obv. legend IMP ANTONINVS AVG of which I have casts, show the bust draped and cuirassed, not draped only.

[fred]

Thanks Curtis, it was exactly what I had supposed. As yesterday on Forvm for the Caracalla with aegis reverse your answer is very complete. Thank you very much to share with us your large knowledges !

Best regards,

Fred