Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus facing right "SEP-TIM (TV)R COL
Rev: Hexastyle temple with arched central bay set on four-tiered base; palm tree, altar, and murex shell before temple steps; within statue of Tyche of Tyre standing right, erecting trophy, crowned by Nike on column


. Metal: Bronze 17.52 Grams, 30 mm diameter. Condition: good VF

Elagabalus with the support of his powerful grand mother Julia Maesa gained the support of the troops and defeated Macrinus. He was declared emperor of all Rome on 8 June 218.

Elagabalus was the heriditary high priest of Elagabal (his name sake) and had two temples built in Rome to his god Elagabal. As well as his religious mania, the young emperor indulged in sexual extravagance. He married at least three (3) wives and had intercouse with even more. He was bisexual and in third century Rome homosexual liaisons was not respectable. He was also a transvestite. At night he would go to taverns, wearing a wig and there ply the trade of a female huckster. He carried this charade further by frequenting the brothels where he would drive out the prostitutes and played the role himself. This activity culminated in his marriage to a slave called Hierocles who was even allowed to beat the emperor as if he was the slave's wife. According to scandalous reports, Elagabalus not only wanted to wear woman's cloths and act like a woman he is reported to have asked his physicians to contrive a vagina in his body and promised a large sum of money for doing so. Another story tells of his delight with a particularly well endowed man, but disappointment when he failed to perform in bed.

This behavior was too much for his soldiers and there was a series of rebellions and uprisings. The uprisings were put down, but eventually the family persuaded Elagabalus to make his popular cousin Alexander Severus his heir and name him "Caesar". The adoption took place on 26 June 221. Rather than calm things down this led to rivalry between Elagabalas and his mother Julia Soaemias and Serverus Alexander, his mother Julia Mamaea and grandmother Julia Maesa. Eventually Elagabalus was killed by his own soldiers..