Elagabalus Silver Antoninianus, RIC IV Elagabalus 155e

Monetary and Fiscal Context

The antoninianus, originally instituted by Caracalla in AD 215, functioned within the imperial monetary system as an overvalued silver denomination. Formally evaluated at two standard denarii, its metallic mass averaged only about 50 percent higher than the contemporary denarius, yielding a substantial seigniorage profit for the imperial treasury. This fiscal expedient helped meet escalating expenditure, especially the increased pay rates and lavish accession donatives demanded by the legions. Following the brief reign of Macrinus, who curtailed antoninianus production, Elagabalus revived the denomination upon his accession in AD 218 to distribute essential stipends and secure military loyalty across Rome and the provincial armies. The silver fineness of Elagabalus's antoniniani generally hovered around 40 to 45 percent silver, continuing the gradual monetary dilution characteristic of early third-century Severan currency. The production of the denomination under Elagabalus was relatively short-lived; mint records and hoard profiles indicate that antoninianus output at Rome had largely ceased by late AD 219. After this initial surge, the central imperial mint reverted almost exclusively to the single denarius and subsidiary aes coinage until the general revival of the radiate denomination under Balbinus, Pupienus, and Gordian III.

Production Standards and Mint Operation

RIC IV Elagabalus 155e was manufactured at the primary imperial mint in Rome. Mint organization during this period operated across several specialized officinae (workshops), which shared obverse imperial portraits while often pairing them with synchronized reverse messages. Production methods relied on classical Roman manual coining techniques: cast silver flans were prepared within target weight tolerances, heated, and struck between hand-held upper dies and fixed lower anvil dies. Antoniniani of Elagabalus typically exhibited weights ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 grams with an approximate diameter between 21 and 23 millimeters, though individual specimens routinely display irregular flan edges, minor off-centering, and uneven die stress. The alloy mixture of copper and silver often left struck surfaces vulnerable to leaching and surface crystallization over extended periods of burial. Die-axis orientation at Rome during this phase was predominantly aligned near the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock positions, reflecting the semi-regular mechanical habits of the workshop celatores.

Obverse Iconography and Radiate Crown

The obverse of RIC IV Elagabalus 155e features the right-facing profile of Elagabalus adorned with a radiate crown and classical drapery over the shoulders. In Roman numismatic convention, the radiate crown functioned as the definitive diagnostic feature distinguishing the double denarius from the single denarius, where the emperor was shown wearing a laurel wreath. Iconographically, the radiate crown evoked Sol Invictus, linking imperial authority to solar divinity and cosmic vitality. The catalog suffix 'e' in RIC IV marks the specific drapery treatment of the young ruler, differentiating this variant from naked, cuirassed, or composite draped-and-cuirassed portraits bearing the identical legend. Die engravers captured the adolescent features of Elagabalus without the facial sideburns or elongated chin seen on his later denarius issues, confirming that these antoninianus dies were carved during the earliest phase of his administration.

Reverse Iconography: Victory Advancing

The reverse iconography depicts the goddess Victory (Victoria), winged and dressed in a flowing chiton, dynamically advancing toward the right. In her outstretched right hand, she presents a circular laurel wreath, the ancient symbol of martial triumph and civic honor. In her left arm, she cradles a palm frond sloped backward over her shoulder, representing athletic endurance and divine favor on the battlefield. Victory was among the most persistent deities on Roman imperial coinage, yet her specific presentation here served an immediate political objective. Given the violent military coup that brought Elagabalus to power in Syria, visual depictions of active victory legitimized the dynastic restoration of the Severan house over the fallen Macrinus. The balanced, rhythmic posture of Victory on RIC 155e represents traditional Antonine stylistic continuity preserved by Rome's veteran engravers.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Analysis

The obverse inscription reads IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, expanding epigraphically to Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. This extensive nomenclature deliberately excised Elagabalus's birth name (Varius Avitus Bassianus) in favor of the formal imperial title of Caracalla, reinforcing the public claim that the young emperor was Caracalla's natural son and rightful successor. This full legend formula is characteristic of the opening mint emission at Rome between AD 218 and early AD 219 before being compressed on subsequent issues. The reverse bears the inscription VICTOR ANTONINI AVG, which abbreviates Victoria Antonini Augusti ('The Victory of Antoninus Augustus'). By employing the genitive 'Antonini', the legend overtly binds the cosmic virtue of Victory to the persona of the new emperor, framing the military success as his personal achievement rather than a collective state victory.

Typological Variations and Chronology

Within the catalog framework of Roman Imperial Coinage, type 155 comprises several bust varieties under the same obverse legend and reverse composition. Variety 155a presents a radiate and cuirassed bust; 155b and 155c document variations incorporating both drapery and cuirass in different proportions; variety 155e identifies the purely draped radiate bust facing right. Chronologically, the issue belongs to the first main emission struck for Elagabalus after news of Macrinus's defeat reached the capital in mid AD 218. Production of this type continued into early AD 219, when Rome's mint ceased striking radiate silver for Elagabalus. A related antoninianus type was produced contemporaneously at the eastern mint of Antioch, but Antioch issues display distinct local portrait styles and varied lettering forms. Type 155e remains firmly anchored to the central Rome workshops.

Hoard Evidence and Monetary Circulation

Antoniniani of Elagabalus circulated across both western and eastern frontiers of the empire, although their total volume remained modest compared to the vast denarius issues of the period. In major third-century hoards, such as the Shapwick and Dorchester deposits in Britain or continental hoard contexts across Gaul and the Danube, antoniniani of Elagabalus frequently occur alongside radiate coins of Caracalla and later Severan denarii. Because the antoninianus was tariffed above its intrinsic bullion worth, bad money drove out good in accordance with Gresham's law, leading the public to spend antoniniani rapidly while hoarding older, higher-purity Severan silver. Wear patterns on recovered specimens of RIC IV 155e vary widely: many show light to moderate wear, demonstrating that while the denomination was short-lived at the mint, individual pieces circulated steadily through the mid-third century until the hyper-inflated antoninianus reforms of Decius and Valerian completely superseded early Severan radiates.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume V: Pertinax to Elagabalus. pp. 533-535
2. Coin and Society in the Roman Empire. pp. 128-132
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC IV Elagabalus 155e. Type ric.4.el.155e
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IV, Part II: Macrinus to Pupienus. p. 43, no. 155e