One of the coins I purchased in the Frank Robinson Auction 104. We know this is the first issue of Julia Soaemias because it can be dated to AD 218 because the corresponding aureus (BMCRE 39) predates Elagabalus' return later that year to the reduced aureus standard of Caracalla. @curtislclay postulates that the mint apparently erroneously thought that Soaemias rather than Julia Maesa (Elagabalus' grandmother) was the predominant lady in Elagabalus' family, for there was no corresponding early issue of coins at Rome for Maesa. Few different coins were issued for Soaemias. She was killed in AD 222 together with Elagabalus. Their corpses were dragged through the streets of Rome and thrown into the Tiber. Later, she was proclaimed to be State's Enemy and she was deprived of all her titles. Julia Soaemias, Mother of Elagabalus, AD 218-222 Roman AR Denarius Rome, AD 218 Obv: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: IVNO REGINA, Juno, veiled, standing right, holding scepter and Palladium Refs: RIC 237; BMCRE 41-43; Cohen 3; RCV 7718; CRE 464. Notes: Only 7 specimens in Reka Devnia hoard. Post anything you feel is relevant, of course!
Very nice First Year @Roman Collector ! Wretched time for Rome putting up with those Eastern Freaks! When they get angry, they clean house a bit. I have a worn example: RI Julia Soaemias 218-222 CE AR Den Venus Caelestis star RIC IV 241
Julia Soaemias (219 - 222 A.D.) Ar Denarius O: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: IVNO REGINA, Juno standing right, holding scepter & palladium. Rome Mint 19mm 2.64g RIC 237, RSC 3, BMC 41
Nice example. I debated about it, but went elsewhere. The portrait on your example is quite distinctive. Modeled after a predecessor? Here is mine, which has a portrait style similar to the coin showed by Mat: I like the "stick figure" palladium on mine.
Silver Denarius Antioch mint? Obv: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG Rev: VENVS CAELESTIS - Venus, diademed, standing left, holding apple and scepter; star in left field RIC (Elagabalus) 241 19x17mm, 2.2g.
While researching this coin at the BMC collection online, I came across this interesting item. What these satyrs have to do with a coin of Julia Soaemias, I haven't a clue: Coin with the portrait of Julia Soaemias; bust in profile to the right; on monument flanked by female figures with animal legs; cancelled plate to Enea Vico's Augustarum imagines aereis formis expressae; vitae quoque earundem breviter enarratae, signorum etiam, que in posteriori parte numismatum efficta sunt, ratio explicata (1558, Manutius, Venice).
