Elagabalus Silver Denarius RIC IV Elagabalus 68d

Monetary Context and Denominational Setting

The silver denarius remained the traditional transactional core of the imperial Roman monetary system into the early third century AD, though it operated under increasing structural strain. Following the economic adjustments of Septimius Severus and Caracalla, the denarius circulated alongside the double denarius, or antoninianus, which had been introduced in AD 215. While Caracalla initiated the production of this radiate coin tariffed at two denarii, its production was curtailed under Macrinus and virtually abandoned during the sole reign of Elagabalus, who prioritized the striking of standard laureate denarii in immense quantities. The denarius family under Elagabalus continued the trajectory of metallurgical decline characteristic of the late Severan period. Systematic metallurgical analyses of Severan silver demonstrate that denarii of this era typically possessed an intrinsic silver purity fluctuating between forty and forty-six percent, with the balance comprised of copper alloy additions. The nominal weight standard hovered between 2.8 and 3.2 grams, reflecting reduced intrinsic value compared to the high-purity issues of the early Antonine era. Despite this debasement, denarii such as RIC IV Elagabalus 68d retained official acceptance at face value throughout the empire, functioning as the primary vehicle for military remuneration, bureaucratic stipends, and large-scale state expenditures across both urban centers and peripheral provinces.

Mint Organization and Production at Rome

RIC IV Elagabalus 68d was struck at the primary imperial mint in Rome, which operated under strict administrative oversight to meet the massive fiscal requirements of the imperial court. Numismatic analysis of die engraving and stylistic execution indicates that the Rome mint organized its artisans into specialized workshops, or officinae, which divided production between dynastic issues, traditional religious offerings, and military allegories. The production of the silver coinage involved casting standardized flans in ceramic molds or from poured strips of molten alloy, which were then cold-adjusted before being struck between engraved iron dies. The Rome mint during the early reign of Elagabalus is characterized by distinctive stylistic habits, notably neat, high-relief imperial portraits and carefully balanced reverse lettering. The obverse die for this specific type was executed to display comprehensive military and civil attire, combining the laureate wreath with both drapery and a visible cuirass. Striking quality in this period varied depending on mint output pace, with instances of slight die wear, moderate centering displacement, and uneven flan expansion occurring across surviving specimens. Nevertheless, the technical control maintained by the Rome mint contrasts with the somewhat coarser engraving and irregular fabric of contemporary eastern mints, such as Antioch, which produced related issues during the emperor's initial progress toward Rome.

Obverse Portraiture and Attributes

The obverse design of RIC IV Elagabalus 68d presents a right-facing bust of Elagabalus that combines three primary imperial attributes: the laurel wreath, fabric drapery, and defensive cuirass. This specific bust type, distinguished catalogically as laureate, draped, and cuirassed right, represents the most elaborate of the bust varieties associated with the IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG obverse legend. The youthful features of the emperor are rendered with soft facial planes, short curly hair, and an absence of facial hair, consistent with his accession as an adolescent. The laurel wreath sits firmly on the head with ties extending downward behind the neck, serving as an ancient symbol of martial victory and sovereign authority. The drapery is pinned at the shoulder, revealing portions of the military breastplate beneath, which visually underscores the emperor's identity as supreme military commander (imperator). In numismatic classification, this bust configuration is distinct from simpler laureate-only heads or laureate and draped busts lacking armor, reflecting intentional die-cutting choices that emphasized complete military preparedness.

Reverse Iconography of Fides Exercitus

The reverse of RIC IV Elagabalus 68d depicts Fides, the Roman personification of fidelity, good faith, and trust, seated in profile facing left. She is clothed in long, flowing drapery that falls to her feet, rendered with fine linear folds typical of late Severan die engraving. In her extended right hand, Fides supports a legionary eagle (aquila), the preeminent military talisman of Rome's legions. In her left hand, she holds an imperial military standard (signum), which rests vertically against her body. Placed upright in the ground before her is an additional vertical military standard, balancing the composition. This elaborate iconographic combination visually anchors the concept of the Fides Exercitus, or loyalty of the army. By seating Fides amidst the primary regalia of the legions, the die designer created a direct visual connection between divine virtue and military steadfastness. The seated posture conveys permanence and stability, reassuring contemporary audiences that the allegiance of the imperial armed forces was settled, secure, and actively supporting the ruling dynasty against domestic and external challenges.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Analysis

The inscriptions on RIC IV Elagabalus 68d are executed in clean, classic Roman capitals arranged along the outer borders of both faces. The obverse legend reads IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG, moving clockwise from the lower left. This formulaic legend contains three standard imperial components: Imperator (military commander and acclaimed victor), Caesar (the dynastic surname carrying imperial heritage), Antoninus (the specific adoptive name chosen to cement kinship with Caracalla and Marcus Aurelius), and Augustus (the supreme civil and religious imperial title). The adoption of the name Antoninus was a vital political strategy designed to establish continuity and legitimize the regime after the brief reign of Macrinus. The reverse legend reads FIDES EXERCITVS, arranged around the seated personification. Translating directly as 'Loyalty of the Army', this legend operates in direct grammatical association with the accompanying visual elements. The lettering on Rome mint dies of this issue is characterized by consistent stroke thickness, distinct serifs, and proportional letter spacing, with the reverse text framed to complement the vertical lines of the military standards and the seated figure.

Typology and Chronological Classification

Within the typology established by Harold Mattingly and Edward A. Sydenham in Roman Imperial Coinage, the denarii of Elagabalus are systematically divided between dated issues bearing tribunician and consular titles and undated issues featuring broad ideological and military slogans. RIC IV Elagabalus 68 encompasses the undated series celebrating Fides Exercitus with a seated figure, differentiated into sub-varieties based entirely on the bust drapery and armor of the emperor. While RIC IV 68a features a bare bust with laurel wreath, RIC IV 68b exhibits a draped bust, and RIC IV 68c features a cuirassed bust, RIC IV 68d specifically denotes the complete laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust facing right. While the overarching catalogue scope for this undated series spans the full reign from AD 218 to 222, detailed stylistic and hoards studies demonstrate that the short obverse legend IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG was predominantly employed at the beginning of the reign, during AD 218 and 219, before being largely superseded by longer or altered titles such as IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Consequently, RIC IV Elagabalus 68d represents an early struck variety within the broader Fides Exercitus issues of the reign.

Circulation, Hoard Presence, and Loss

Denarii of RIC IV Elagabalus 68d circulated extensively across the Roman Empire, integrating smoothly into the vast existing pool of Severan silver currency. Archaeological discoveries and numismatic hoard documentation demonstrate that early issues of Elagabalus moved rapidly from central distribution points to frontier garrisons along the Rhine and Danube, as well as into commercial hubs in Gaul, Britain, and North Africa. Because the intrinsic silver content of Elagabalus's denarii was comparable to that of Caracalla and Julia Domna, these coins did not suffer selective hoarding under Gresham's Law; instead, they mingled freely with both slightly earlier Severan denarii and subsequent issues of Severus Alexander. Major hoard deposits dating to the mid-third century AD, such as the Shapwick and Dorchester hoards in Britain, contain regular representations of Elagabalus's military types, exhibiting degrees of wear that attest to decades of active monetary circulation prior to final burial during the political disruptions of the Crisis of the Third Century.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume V: Pertinax to Elagabalus. pp. 535-538
2. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC IV Elagabalus 68d. ric.4.el.68d
3. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IV, Part II: Macrinus to Pupienus. pp. 33-34, no. 68d
4. The Severan Silver Coinage: Metallurgy, Hoards and Circulation. pp. 112-124