ELAGABALVS BASSIANVS
Reigned: 218-222 a.d.
| VARIVS AVITVS BASSIANVS, born in late 204 or early 205 to Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus, entered the service of the Emesan sun-god, Elagabal, hence his nickname Elagabalus. His maternal grand-aunt was Julia Domna, Caracalla's mother. When Macrinus became Augustus in 217, Soaemias and her mother Julia Maesa rumored that Elagabalus was the illegitimate son of Caracalla. The soldiers revolted, making him Augustus on May 16, 218. However, his reign was one of the most depraved in Roman history, and he and Soaemias were killed by disgusted Praetorians on March 6, 222.(Excerpt from MONETA, from www.numus.com) |
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AR Denarius (19mm) Struck 219-200ad Rome Obv:IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate head right Rev: P M TR P IIII COS III P P Providentia standing left, holding cornucopia and wand over globe, star in left field RIC 42 |
Provincial Coinage
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Moesia Inferior Markianopolis AD 218-222 Obv: AVT K M AVR ANTWNEINOC laureate draped bust right Rev VP CEPG TITIANOV MARKIANOPOLIT L N Hera standing with patera and scepter. (Sergius Titianus, Magistrate) Moushmov 656 c.f. , AMNG 903 c.f. Ex Harry Stewart |
