Roman Provincial Coins, Seleukis and Pieria, Emesa, Antoninus Pius, AE, nearly vf

For his devotion to Elagabal, the later emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was also called Elagabal. Elagabalus moved the baetyl to Rome upon his accession and, for a brief period, it seemed that Elagabal might become the principle deity in the Roman pantheon. Wishing to distance himself from Elagabalus' unpopular religious practices, his successor Severus Alexander sent the baetyl back to Emesa. The types of Antoninus Pius are the only known pre-Severan imperial issues from Emisa.