Denarius of Elagabalus c. 220 - 222

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Elagabalus, author also Elagabalus. It's fascinating to consider this small coin not just as currency, but as a form of propaganda or self-representation. What can you tell us about its function and the materials used in its creation? Curator: Considering it as currency, we must look at the minting process, labor involved in extraction of silver, and the coin's value as a marker of imperial power circulated among the Roman populace. The choice of silver itself, its weight of 3.73g, all dictated economic realities and social hierarchies of the time. Editor: So, it was more than just a pretty face. Curator: Precisely. It’s an artifact deeply embedded in the material conditions of the Roman Empire. Understanding its composition helps us decipher the economic and social systems it supported. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!