Beschreibung
Erhaltung: unz / unz- | Abkürzungen
Katalognummer: Sol
Durchmesser: 20,00 mm
weight 3,32gr. | silver Ø 20mm.
obv. Laureate and draped bust right, surrounded by the legend
IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
rev. Sol, radiate, naked except for cloak over left shoulder,
standing front, head right, holding whip in left hand, star in left field,
surrounded by the legend P M TR P IIII COS III P P
At the time of Emperor Elagabalus we see a revival of the Sol worship, but this was a completely different Sol from earlier times. This Sol Invictus was a Syrian sun god, Elagabal, whose cult was first promoted in Rome under Elagabalus. Elagabalus (218222) built a temple to him as Sol Invictus (Elagabalium) on the Palatine and attempted to make his worship the principal religion at Rome, without much success. His cousin Alexianus, the later Severus Alexander, who was also a priest of the sun god Elagabal at the Syrian town of Emesa also wanted to promote the worship of Sol Invictus, but also with little success. The emperor Aurelian (270275) later reestablished the worship and erected a magnificent temple to Sol in the Campus Agrippae. The worship of Sol as special protector of the emperors and of the empire remained the chief imperial cult, in particular during the early reign of Constantine the Great, as we can see on his coins. This remained until it was replaced by Christianity.
Cohen 182 | RIC 38 | BMC 240 note and 245 | cf. Sear 7533
Excellent lustrous coin with very sharp details. Near mintstate.
unc/unc-
