AR22 - Elagabalus L Ε

Elagabalus proved uniquely disruptive to Alexandrian coinage protocol. His reign introduced the solar cult of Elagabal to Egypt with considerable official pressure, and the provincial mint at Alexandria had to navigate a rapid succession of regnal year changes tied to an emperor whose political standing in Rome was deteriorating almost from the start. This piece dates to year five — his last — before the Praetorian Guard murdered him in a latrine and dragged his body through the streets of Rome in March 222.

Dattari 4234 is among the scarcer year-five attributions for this type.