Pentassarian of Elagabalus Markianopolis AD 218-222

Moesia Inferior Markianopolis AD 218-222 (27mm 11.05g) 

Obverse: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡH ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ (Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus) laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus, right, seen from rear

Reverse: ΥΠ ϹΕΡΓ ΤΙΤΙΑΝΟΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ (during the (pro)consulship of Sergius Titianus, of the Marcianopolitans) Hera standing facing, head left, holding patera and long sceptre

RPC VI 1510 Moushmov 656, AMNG 879–81
ex. Harry Stewart

 The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

The front features a portrait of the Roman Emperor Elagabalus, looking to the right. He’s wearing a laurel wreath, armor (a cuirass), and a military cloak (drape).

• The Greek inscription says: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡH ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ
• What it translates to: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
• The story behind it: Elagabalus was an eccentric teenager when he became emperor. His actual birth name wasn't Elagabalus; he officially took the name "Marcus Aurelius Antoninus" to make himself sound like the wildly popular, beloved former emperor Caracalla. This helped legitimize his claim to the throne.

 The Back (Reverse): Goddess & Governor

The back features a classic divine scene: Hera (the queen of the gods, known as Juno to the Romans) standing and looking to the left. She is holding a long scepter in one hand and a patera (a shallow sacrificial bowl used to pour liquid offerings to the gods) in the other.

• The Greek inscription says: ΥΠ ϹΕΡΓ ΤΙΤΙΑΝΟΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
• What it translates to: Under the governor Sergius Titianus, of the Marcianopolitans.
• The story behind it: Provincial coins often pulled double duty as local news or boasting. By stamping the name of the regional governor (Sergius Titianus), the city was acknowledging who was running things locally on behalf of Rome. Stamping "Marcianopolitans" proudly declared exactly which city's economy backed the coin