Lot 207: Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem. Elagabalus. A.D. 218-222. BI tetradrachm. Cos. II (A.D. 219). A New Variety.

Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem. Elagabalus. A.D. 218-222. BI tetradrachm (27 mm, 14.68 g, 12 h). Cos. II (A.D. 219). AVT K M · A · AN ··· TWNЄINOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATOC TO B, eagle standing left, head left, holding wreath in beak; across upper field, Δ-Є; between legs, star. Cf. McAlee 762/1 (same obv. die as illus.); cf. Prieur 264. Not recorded by either McAlee or Prieur with the eagle standing left with head left! Attractive golden tone. Nearly extremely fine. 

While there are is considerable stylistic variation of Elagabalus'' tetradrachms from Antioch (and some, in fact, may be products of other mints), the dies used to strike this coin are of the finest quality. In fact, there really is no question that these are a product of an Antiochene engraver. Even at Antioch, however, there are differences in how the eagle is represented: standing facing with head ether right or left, standing left with head right, and standing right with head left. Thus, it is no mere artistic license that the eagle here is shown standing to the left with the head also facing left, but as such it is unpublished in both McAlee and Prieur.

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 207
• Listing #: 228222
• Closed: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:08:40 PM CT
• Estimate: $300