ELAGABALUS
AD 218-222
AE20. 4.82g, 20mm
MINTED: SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, AD 218-222
REF: SNG Copenhagen 243f
OBVERSE: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: [AVT] KAI M AV [ANTωNEINOC], laureate bust right. R: SC within wreath, star and Δ-Є above, eagle below.
 
Notes:
Earthen orange deposits with some surface roughness.
 
Historical Notes:
Antioch on the Orontes River (modern day Antakya, Turkey) was a great city in the Roman province of Syria. It was built by Seleukos I, one of Alexander the Great's generals, and founder of the Seleukid Empire after the latter's death. It occupied an enviable position on the ancient Silk Road trading route and was the third most important city in the Empire, after Alexandria in Egypt and Rome itself. The city also played an important role in early Christian history, and it was at Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians.