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303. JULIA DOMNA; Rome, c. 209 AD, Denarius, 2.03g. BM-24, C-55, RIC-552.
Obv: IVLIA - AVGVSTA Bust draped r., hair without braid along lower edge. Rx:
FORTVNAE - FELICI Fortuna Felix standing l. leaning on reversed rudder and
holding cornucopia with tip turned away from body. Toned EF.............................150
304. CARACALLA AS CAESAR; 195-198 AD, Rome, 197 AD, Denarius, 3.42g.
BM-194, C-53 (12 Fr.), RIC-6 var. Obv: [M AVR ANTON] - CAES PONTIF Bare-
headed, draped bust r. Rx: [D]ESTINATO IM[PERAT] Lituus, apex (priestly cap),
bucranium (skull of sacrificed bull), ladle. The reverse calls Caracalla “emperor to
be”, a title accorded otherwise only to Titus as Caesar. The bucranium, here depicted
with a beaded band tied around the bull’s forehead and hanging down on both sides,
is an unusual priestly attribute on Roman coins, otherwise occurring only on a small
medallion of Commodus Caesar (BM pl. 84,13) and on the aureus and denarius of
Augustus once attributed to Caius Caesar (BM pl. 17,14-15; see H. Dressel, Röm.
Medaillone. zu Berlin, pp. 115-8). Extremely interesting reverse. Struck on a small
flan. aEF....................................................................................................................150
305. CARACALLA; 198-217 AD, Rome, c. 206 AD, Denarius, 3.36g. BM-276, C-64,
RIC-127. Obv: ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG Bust laureate, draped r. Rx: FELICIT - AS
AVGG Felicitas standing l. holding short caduceus and cornucopia. EF................120
Two VICT BRIT
306. CARACALLA; 198-217 AD. Rome, 210-11 AD, Denarius, 2.93g. BM-102, C-629,
RIC-231A. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS - AVG BRIT Head laureate r. Rx: VICTORIAE -
BRITVictory running r. holding trophy in both hands. Ex Berk 120, 10 May 2001, 380.
Scarce, fewer than 20 specimens in Reka Devnia hoard (15 in Sofia, the 5 Caracalla
VICTORIAE BRIT denarii in Varna seem to have the wrong Cohen numbers) From
worn reverse die. aEF................................................................................................200
307. CARACALLA; 198-217 AD, Rome, 210-1 AD, Denarius, 3.26g. BM-105, C-632,
RIC-231. Rx: VICTO - RI - AE BRIT Victory advancing l. holding wreath and palm.
Scarce, fewer than 14 specimens in Reka Devnia hoard (9 in Sofia, the 5 Caracalla
VICTORIAE BRIT denarii in Varna seem to have the wrong Cohen numbers).
Excellent portrait. Toned Mint State.........................................................................250
308. CARACALLA; 198-217 AD, Denarius, Rome, 212-3 AD, 3.42g. BM-87, C-150,
RIC-223. Obv: BRIT. Rx: MARTI - PROPVGNATORI Mars advancing l. holding
spear and trophy. Exquisite portrait. Mint State......................................................275
309. CARACALLA; 198-217 AD, Rome, 217 AD, Denarius, 3.08g. BM-181, RIC-285a,
C-373. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM Head laureate r. Rx: P M TR P XX -
COS IIII P P Jupiter standing l., holding thunderbolt and scepter. Scarce variant type of
Caracalla’s last year: 19 specimens in Reka Devnia hoard. EF..............................125
310. PLAUTILLA; Rome, 204 AD, Denarius, 3.62g. BM-429, C-25, RIC-369. Obv:
PLAVTILLA - AVGVSTA Bust draped r. Rx: VENVS - VICTRIX Plautilla as Venus
standing l. (she has Plautilla’s hairdo), leaning on shield and holding apple and palm,
Cupid standing before her with arms outstretched, the helmet he usually holds is
omitted on this die. Toned EF.................................................................................150
311. CARACALLA; Rome, 212-3 AD, Denarius, 3.33g. BM-97, C-508 (10 Fr.), RIC-
225. Obv: with title BRIT. Rx: PROFECTIO AVG Caracalla standing r. holding
spear, two standards behind him. Purchased from Wynyard Coins, Sydney, Feb. 1986.
Commemorates Caracalla’s departure on his German expedition, probably c. mid 212
when this type was introduced. aEF........................................................................200
312. GETAAS CAESAR; 198-209 AD, Rome, 199 AD, Denarius, 3.18g. Bust var. of BM-
240; C-183, RIC-20a. Obv: P SEPT GETA - CAES PONT Bare-headed, draped bust
r. Rx: SECVRIT - IMPERII Securitas seated l. holding globe, l. arm on arm rest. Rare
with bust draped only, not draped and cuirassed. BMC 241, which is described as
draped only, is actually draped and cuirassed, as pl. 32.17 shows. aEF.................250
313. GETAAS CAESAR; 198-209 AD, Rome, 201-2 AD, Denarius, 3.40g. BM-234, RIC-
18, C-157. Rx: PRINC IV - VENT - VTIS Geta in military dress holding baton and
scepter, trophy behind. EF.......................................................................................165
314. GETAAS CAESAR; 198-209 AD, Rome, 203 AD, Denarius, 3.92g. BM-220, RSC-
38a, RIC-9a. Obv: P SEPT GETA - CAES PONT Bare-headed, draped bust r. Rx:
FELICITAS - PVBLICA Felicitas standing l. holding short caduceus and cornucopia.
Overweight specimen, about half a gram too heavy. A nice specimen with great
centering, full legends, and very nice strike, apart from some weakness on Felicitas
above the waist. VF+.................................................................................................140
315. GETAAS CAESAR; 198-209 AD, Rome, 206 AD, Denarius, 3.67g. C-79 (3 Fr.), BM
p. 201 (citing Cohen). Obv: GETA CAES - PONTIF Bare-headed, draped bust r. Rx:
MINE - RVAMinerva standing l. holding shield and spear. Scarce reverse type, scarce
transitional obverse legend: nine specimens in Reka Devnia hoard, not in BM by 1975.
Toned EF...................................................................................................................175
316. MACRINUS; 217-218 AD, Rome, 217 AD, Denarius, 3.44g. BM-31, C-55, RIC-15.
Obv: Laureate cuirassed portrait r. with long beard. Rx: PONTIF.MAX TR P COS P P
Jupiter without cloak standing l. holding thunderbolt and scepter. Mint State.......585
317. MACRINUS; 217-218 AD, Rome, 218 AD, Denarius, 3.01g. BM-58, RSC-2b, RIC-
53. Obv: Bust laureate, cuirassed r., seen from front; legend broken above head. Rx:
AEQVITAS AVG Aequitas standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. Ex VAuctions
274, December 2011, lot 147; with auction ticket. Good EF..................................400
318. MACRINUS; 217-218 AD, Rome, Denarius, 3.25g. BM-65 note, RSC-23c, RIC-67.
Obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG Bust laureate, cuirassed r., seen from
front, beard long. Rx: FIDES MILITVM Fides standing l., head r., placing foot on
helmet and holding standard in each hand. Hair in front of wreath flatly struck. Mint
State...........................................................................................................................475
319. DIADUMENIAN AS CAESAR; 217-218 AD, Rome, Denarius, 3.83g. BM-87, C-3
(15 Fr.), RIC-102. Obv: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES Bare-headed bust r.,
draped, seen from front. Rx: PRINC IVVENTVTIS Diadumenian standing l., head r.,
holding standard and scepter, two further standards behind him. Overweight specimen.
Ex Berk 151, 1 November 2006, lot 433. VF.........................................................390
320. ELAGABALUS; 218-222 AD. Rome, 218-9 AD. Antoninianus, 5.03g. BM-26, C-254
(3 Fr.), RIC-138. Obv: IMP CAES MAVR ANTONINVS AVG Bust radiate, draped r.
Rx: SALVS ANTONINI AVG Salus standing r. offering cake to serpent that she holds.
aEF............................................................................................................................185
321. ELAGABALUS; 218-222 AD, Denarius, Rome, 219 AD, 3.01g. BM-214, RSC-81a,
RIC-101. Rx: LIBERALITAS AVG II Liberalitas standing l. holding coin counter
and cornucopia. This largesse was distributed to commemorate Elagabalus’ arrival in
Rome from the East in 219 AD. Mint State............................................................200
322. ELAGABALUS (218-222 AD); 218-222 AD, Rome, 220 AD, Denarius, 3.46g. BM-
179, C-154, RIC-28. Obv: IMPANTONINVS PIVS AVG Bust laureate, draped r. Rx:
P M TR P - III COS III P P Sol advancing l. raising r. hand and holding whip in l., star
in l. field. Acquired by previous owner in September 1985. Toned Choice EF......225
323. ELAGABALUS; 218-222 AD, Denarius, Rome, 221 AD, 2.84g. BM-189, RSC-
1a, RIC-56. Rx: ABVNDANTIA AVG Abundantia standing l. dispensing fruit from
cornucopia, star in field r. Mint State......................................................................200
324. ELAGABALUS; 218-222 AD, Denarius, Rome, 221-2 AD, 3.13g. BM-225, C-246,
RIC-131. Obv: Bust r., bearded and wearing “horn”. Rx: SACERD DEI SOLIS
ELAGAB Emperor standing r. in Syrian priestly dress, holding patera and club, lighted
and garlanded altar at feet, star (only traces survive) in r. field. Attractive portrait of
Elagabalus. Mint State...............................................................................................200
325. ELAGABALUS (218-222 AD); 218-222 AD, Rome, 221-2 AD, Denarius, 3.92g.
BM-232, C-276, RIC-146. Obv: With “horn” and beard on chin. Rx: SVMMVS
SACERDOS AVG Emperor in Syrian priestly dress sacrificing l. at tripod altar and
holding branch, star in l. field. Overweight specimen. aEF....................................155
326. ELAGABALUS (218-222 AD); 218-222 AD, Rome, 222 AD, Denarius, 3.39g. BM-
230, RSC-276b, RIC-146 var. Obv: Without “horn”. Rx: SVMMVS SA - CERDOS
AVG Emperor in Syrian priestly dress sacrificing l. at tripod altar and holding branch,
star in field l. Scarce issue of the last several months of Elagabalus’ reign, after the
“horn” had been removed from the obverse type early in 222 AD: see F. Dieulafait in
the Eauze hoard report, p. 218. Toned EF...............................................................200
327. ELAGABALUS; 218-222 AD, Eastern Mint, 219 AD, Denarius, 3.13g. BMC-p. 580,
* and RIC-165, both citing R. It. 1891, p. 314 (F. Gnecchi, unpubl. coins in the Mus.
Comunale, Trento); Thirion-321, pl. 5, citing and illustrating Münzhlg. Basel 6, 18
March 1936, lot 1872 (different dies than ours); cf. C-24 with rev. legend CONSVL
(rather than just CONS) II P P (Paris, 30 Fr.). Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG
Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed r. Rx: CONS - II P P Roma seated l. above shield,
apparently wearing aegis with head of Medusa on breast, holding Victory in extended
r. hand and transverse scepter in lowered l. arm. The apparent aegis on the breast of
the figure is unusual and might argue for her identification as Minerva rather than
Roma. This is a rare type on Elagabalus’ Eastern denarii: none in Berk photofile, only
two specimens in Reka Devnia hoard (rev. CONSVL), one in CoinArchives Pro (rev.
CONS like ours, but from different dies both sides). Nevertheless Cohen’s 30-franc
estimate, apparently not a mere misprint since it is already found in his first edition,
seems much too high: Cohen normally puts no premium on ordinary types that happen
to be rare in a particular issue, since most collectors will not pay extra for such
specialized rarities. From the Samuel Puchala Collection. Mint State.....................750
328. ELAGABALUS, PLATEDANCIENT IMITATION; 218-222 AD, Denarius, 2.98g.
Plated ancient imitation copying the Eastern-mint denarius BM-275, C-15, RIC-187,
and Thirion-344. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FELAVG Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed
r. Rx: CON - COR - DIAaround, NILIT in exergue (sic, the N backwards and replacing
the correct M, and the L looking like an upside-down T), two standards flanked by
two legionary eagles on vexilla. Ex Berk 183, 28 March 2013, lot 276. From a group
of plated ancient forgeries that came onto the market several years ago, mostly struck
from just two die pairs: Elagabalus / Four Standards like our coin, and Julia Soaemias
/ Vesta seated type of Julia Domna. See also the next lot in this sale. From the Samuel
Puchala Collection. EF..............................................................................................350
329. JULIA SOAEMIAS, PLATED ANCIENT IMITATION; Fourrée Denarius, 3.40g.
RIC-248, BM p. 539, f (ancient forgery). Obv: IVLIΛ SOΛEMIΛS ΛVGVSTΛ Bust
draped r. Rx: ΛES - TΛ (sic) Vesta seated l. holding ladle and transverse scepter (top
only rendered). The “barbarous” style and poor engraving of some letters (notably,
A is consistently rendered as Λ, V in VESTA is upside down, and T has an “extra”
crossbar at its bottom) reveals these denarii of Julia Soaemias and others of Elagabalus
found with them to be ancient imitations, not products of the eastern mint that struck
the prototypes. Also indicative of an unofficial issue is the wide variation of weight,
ranging from 2.91g to 3.66g in the sample we obtained. The present coin of Julia
Soaemias is a correctly identified in the BM catalogue as a hybrid with a reverse of
Julia Domna, although the authors of RIC accept it without comment as an official type
of Soaemias. Mint State...........................................................................................350
330. JULIAPAULA; Rome, 220AD, Denarius, 3.10g. BM-172, RSC-6a, Eauze Hoard-376
(29 spec.), RIC-211. Obv: IVLIA PAVLAAVG Bust draped r., showing later coiffure
with small bun. Rx: CONCO - RDIA Concordia seated l. holding patera and resting l.
elbow on throne, star in l. field. Mint State.............................................................550
331. JULIA SOAEMIAS; Rome, 221-222 AD, Denarius, 3.24g. BM-55, C-14, RIC-243.
Obv: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG Bust draped r. Rx: VENVS CAELESTIS Venus seated
l. holding apple and scepter, child standing r. before her raising hands. Toned EF.100
332. JULIA MAESA; Rome, 221-2 AD, Denarius, 3.40g. BM-76, C-36, RIC-268. Obv:
IVLIA MAESAAVG Bust draped r. Rx: PVDICITIA Pudicitia seated l. drawing veil
over head and holding scepter, back of throne visible above her l. shoulder. Ex Berk
134, 8 Oct. 2003, lot 366. EF..................................................................................200
333. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Denarius, Rome, 223 AD, 3.23g. BM-101,
C-236, RIC-27. Rx: P M TR P II - COS P P Pax standing l. holding branch and scepter.
EF..............................................................................................................................275
334. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Denarius, Rome, 223 AD, 2.75g. BM-87,
C-229, RIC-19. Rx: P M TR P I - I - COS P P Jupiter standing l. holding thunderbolt
and scepter. Near Mint State...................................................................................210
335. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Denarius, Rome, 227 AD, 3.43g. BM-410,
C-305, RIC-61. Obv: Legend broken over head. Rx: P M TR P VI - COS - II P P Mars
advancing r. holding spear and trophy over shoulder. Reverse weakly struck. Mint
State...........................................................................................................................150
336. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Denarius, Rome, 228 AD, 2.73g. BM-503,
C-337, RIC-83. Obv: Shorter second legend. Rx: P M TR P VII - COS II P P Mars
standing r. holding spear and shield that rest on ground. Mint State......................175
337. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Denarius, Rome, 228-9 AD, 2.55g. BM-
522, C-585 (3 Fr.), RIC-225. Rx: VIRT - VS AVG Emperor as Romulus, laureate and
in military dress, walking r. carrying spear and trophy. Ex CNG 37, 1996, lot 2880. 0.
EF..............................................................................................................................135
FDC
338. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Rome, 230 AD, Denarius, 2.68g. BM-690
var., RSC-73a, RIC-200. Obv: Head laureate r. Rx: IOVI CONSER - VATORI Jupiter
holding thunderbolt over small figure of emperor. Scarce bust variant without fold of
cloak on shoulder, represented by only one specimen in Eauze Hoard-498, compared to
14 specimens with the cloak fold. Heavy specimen. Beautifully struck with mirror-like
toning. FDC...............................................................................................................385
339. SEVERUS ALEXANDER; 222-235 AD, Rome, c. 231-2 AD, Denarius, 3.69g. BM-
790, C-76, RIC-235. Obv: IMP ALEXAN - DER PIVS AVG Bust laureate, draped,
cuirassed r., seen from front. Rx: IOVI PRO - P - VGNATORI Jupiter stepping l.,
looking back r., wielding thunderbolt, cloak fastened on l. shoulder and flying r. from