© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
Aureus - Elagabalus P M TR P IIII COS III P P; Sol
221 year| Gold | 6.5 g | 21 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Elagabalus (Sextus Varius Avitus Basianus) (218-222) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 221 |
| Value | Aureus (25⁄2) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 6.5 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#276628 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Sol, radiate, naked except for cloak over left shoulder, standing front, head right, holding whip in left hand; in field, star.
Script: Latin
Lettering: P M TR P IIII COS III P P
Translation:
Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate Quarta, Consul Tertium, Pater Patriae.
High priest, holder of tribunician power for the fourth time, consul for the third time, father of the nation.
Comment
Mass varies: 6.46–6.47 g;Example of this type:
Trustees of the British Museum
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Aureus coin of Elagabalus is that it features the image of the Roman sun god, Sol, on the reverse side, which was a departure from the traditional depiction of the Roman emperor on the obverse side. This was a deliberate choice made by Elagabalus to promote his own religious beliefs and to emphasize the importance of the sun god in Roman culture.
