Roman Imperial
    [Coin Picture]    Aureus
                      Good VF. Extremely Rare
                      $22,500.00

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Description:
Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. AV Aureus (6.69 gm). Struck 222 AD. IMP ANTONINVS
PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / C-ONSERVATOR AVG,
quadriga left bearing stone of Emesa with eagle carrying wreath in beak
upon the stone; star above. RIC IV 61; BMCRE 197. Good VF, once cleaned,
a few edge marks, one obverse scratch. Rare and historical type.
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History:
At the age of fourteen, Varius Avitus Bassianus (Elagabalus) inherited
the office of high priest of the sun-god Elagabal at Emesa in Syria. The
sacred object of his cult was a black stone. When he moved from Emesa to
Rome in 219 AD, he took the stone (probably a meteorite) with him. The
reverse of this coin shows the stone on its procession through the
streets of Rome to the Palatine. Elagabalus was said to walk backwards
before the wagon, instead of riding. During his reign, Elagabalus devoted
his efforts to the promotion of his cult, building a lavish temple to
house the stone.

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