SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Elagabalus, 218-222. Tetradrachm (Billon, 26 mm, 11.31 g, 6 h), a contemporary imitation. AYT K M A - ANTⲰNЄINOC CЄB Laureate head of Elagabalus to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. ΔHMAPΧ•ЄΞ YΠATOC / Δ - Є Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, star. Cf. McAlee 758 ff. (for prototype). Prieur, Atypical Coins, -. Very rare. A beautifully preserved imitation of charming style. A few light deposits, otherwise, extremely fine.


Imitations of Syro-Phoenician tetradrachms are rare. Prieur catalogued several examples, but our exceptionally well-preserved specimen is not among them (Prieur, pp. 191-196). Interestingly, it shares the obverse die with lot 2294 below; together they form a pair.