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CNG Keystone Auction 1: Part I of the Style Collection

Lot nuber 40

Elagabalus. AD 218-222. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.35 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 220-221.


CNG Keystone Auction 1: Part I of the Style Collection
Lot: 40.
 Estimated: $ 150

Roman Imperial, Silver

Sold For $ 130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Elagabalus. AD 218-222. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.35 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 220-221. Laureate and draped bust right / Sol standing left, raising hand and holding whip; star in upper left field. RIC IV 17 var. (no star); Thirion 140; RSC 134a. Some luster remaining. EF. Well struck.

From the Style Collection.

Given that the popular namesake of Elagabalus is what is often called an eastern solar deity, this denarius type depicting Sol (RIC 17, RSC 134) is surprisingly scarce, with only six other examples in CoinArchives and only one other example in CNG’s huge inventory database. This particular specimen is even more intriguing because of the unusual raised object in the field before Sol’s face: a star or an indistinct blob with a curved “tail.”Adding to the mystery is the known appearance of Halley’s Comet in the skies of AD 218, the year Elagabalus ascended the throne. Several other coins of Elagabalus depict stars in the fields with a noticeable “tail,” likely a reference to the comet.

Closing Date and Time: 20 November 2019 at 10:13:00 ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website, 22.50% for all others.