AD 218-222 Roman Provincial Elagabalus Billon Tetradrachm Antioch NGC Extremely Fine

Elagabalus ruled the Roman Empire from AD 218 to 222, ascending to power at just fourteen years of age through the political machinations of his grandmother, Julia Maesa. This billon tetradrachm was struck at the important provincial mint of Antioch in Syria, one of the leading commercial centers of the eastern Roman world. Provincial tetradrachms from Antioch served as the primary large-denomination coinage circulating throughout the Levant and represent a significant collecting category within Roman provincial numismatics.

The obverse presents a laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus facing right, with the Greek legend visible around the periphery. The portrait displays the youthful features characteristic of the emperor's early reign, rendered in the bold provincial style typical of the Antioch mint. The reverse depicts an eagle standing with wings spread, head turned, with a star between its legs and a wreath in its beak - the standard reverse type for Antioch tetradrachms of this period, accompanied by a Greek legend around the border.

Certified by NGC Ancients as Extremely Fine, this tetradrachm exhibits strong device definition on both sides with an appealing dark patina across even surfaces. Antioch tetradrachms of Elagabalus remain popular among collectors of Roman provincial coinage, offering an accessible entry point into the fascinating and turbulent Severan dynasty. This type is well suited for both provincial type sets and portrait collections of the third-century emperors. We have several examples available similar to the coin pictured here.