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 Replies: 30 / Views: 4,598 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Varius Avitus Bassianus, foisted upon the Romans as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus but self styled and known to history as Elagabalus, assumed his position of absolute power at the age of just 14. With his every adolescent whimsy constituting either a command to be obeyed or a foible to be indulged, Elagabalus seemingly delighted in outrageous behavior. In particular, whether it was because or in spite of his youth, Elagabalus' public pursuit of his sexual predilections left a society that otherwise largely tolerated licentious lifestyles aghast. Within four years, Elagabalus was murdered by his alienated Praetorian Guard. Many historians view his short but disruptive reign as a turning point after which the Roman Empire's decline became irreversible.   RIC #83A? As a newcomer to this specialty, I've decided to concentrate on silver denarii, not with the goal to assemble any sort of complete collection, but rather simply to acquire those that I find aesthetically pleasing. Colligo ergo sum
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice example. At least after his destructive reign and much better emperor Severus Alexander followed.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Nicely detailed coin, and another great bit of photography.
It is not uncommon for folks new to the Roman coin game to become attracted to the silver coins. They show up well in the hand, are easy to read without special lighting, and are plentiful enough that affordable examples are not too hard to find. Chances are that when you have been doing the Imperial silver for a while you will sooner or later venture into the coins of the Republic. The elegance of their artistry (presumably with Greeks at the mint) and the reach of their symbolism have been a siren call to many. Good luck to you on your journey.
[Of course, the complexities of the late bronze will always be there waiting for you to discover. But that is another story.]
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Once in a great while I look at the Roman series and regret having sold most of them. I'm going to have to dig them out and see what I have left. This little beauty you show might influence me to do that. Lovely strong strike and I so love the portrait.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I have a few provincial bronzes of Elagabalus in my collection... for such a short reign, he really did churn out an impressive number of designs.
And as far as the specifics of his rule... I don't think they are appropriate for a family forum, but he takes the cake in my book as the oddest.
Very nice portrait on that denarius.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Great coin and, as Irbguy points out, some impressive photographic work. Thanks for sharing and for the write-up.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4883 Posts |
Here's another. A quite flattering portrait, and a lot of detail remaining on the reverse.   Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
02/16/2016 3:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Nice one!  After going back through my own collection, I came to realize that Elagabalus is actually a lot more common than his very short tenure might suggest--he has been the most common Severan in the lots that I have purchased, and I have seen his mug quite a bit on ebay recently. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Nice little denarius of the little cretin !
Now you need find one of Elagabalus with that "thang" sticking up from his laurels !
The silver issues of the Severan emperors are for the most part common varieties. There are of course a few tough ones to obtain.
The one of Septimius with someone riding a lion comes to mind !
I have had a long battle finding decent bronze of the Severan emperors. Imperial issues I mean.
Funny how the coinage become so heavily reliant on silver only to have it virtually vanish within a few more decades.
My advice has always been to buy what's priced reasonably.
My advice to beginners would be to buy these fellows (and all the Julia's too) in silver.
Especially the one with 'twerpo' wearing that ......... thang on his head !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Little cretin with "horn"  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Nice Elagabalus coins! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
Very nice. Roman Denarii are a great space for collecting coins. There's a lot of variety in rarity, price and aesthetics for coins that are roughly the same size. A nice LRB is great, but there's something visceral about holding silver.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
couple of nice denarii with good portraits LC. I have several coins of elagabalus, but all AE provenicial...no silver. it's on my list. so I s coin where he is wearing his....special....hat.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
One more...   Again, the extant detail in the devices was what attracted me to this specimen. The trio I've posted here make for an interesting study insofar as the varying styles of the portraits is concerned. A last remark - the addition of the star supposedly was meant to signify in a rather boastful manner Elagabalus' divinity (he self-identified with the sun as a god, thus his alternative appellation of Heliogabalus). Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
03/10/2016 10:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
I'm a fan of the twerp's wives. In fact I have two on their way that I picked up in European auctions. Aquilia Severa was a vestal virgin he married twice. Marrying her was probably a bigger scandal than anything else he did.
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Replies: 30 / Views: 4,598 |
Posted 01/28/2016 4:38 pm
