AR Denarius, A.D. 219, Rome, 18.7mm, 3.25g, 180°, RIC IV 73.
Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG. Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev: FIDES MILITVM. Fides standing, head right, holding standard and vexillium.
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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, also known as Elagabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. In 217, the emperor Caracalla was assassinated and replaced by his Praetorian prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus. Caracalla's maternal aunt, Julia Maesa, successfully instigated a revolt to have her eldest grandson, Elagabalus, declared emperor in his place. Macrinus was defeated on June 8, 218, at the Battle of Antioch, upon which Elagabalus, barely fourteen years old, ascended to the imperial power and began a of infamous controversies.

Since the reign of Septimius Severus, sun worship had increased throughout the Empire and Elagabalus saw this as an opportunity to install El-Gabal as the chief deity of the Roman Pantheon. This is how he earned the name Elagabalus, although he was not called this until after his death. He provoked further outrage when he himself married the Vestal Virgin Aquilia Severa, claiming the marriage would produce "god-like children". This was a breach of Roman law which held that any Vestal found to have engaged in sexual intercourse would be buried alive. His sexual identity was another source of controversy. He married several women during his reign but his most stable relationship was with his chariot driver Hierocles. He was described as having been "delighted to be called the mistress, the wife, the Queen of Hierocles" and was said to have offered vast sums of money to the physician who could equip him with female genitalia.

As his support swiftly declined, Julia Maesa arranged for him to declare her other grandson Severus Alexander as his heir. Elagabalus complied but suspecting a plot by the Pratorean Guard, he made several attempts at Alexanders life. Riots ensued and the Pratorean Guard demanded to see Elagabalus and Alexander. When Elagablaus presented himself along with his mother Julia Soaemius, Alexander was cheered while Elagabalus and his mother were attacked and killed. After his demise, many of his associates , including Hierocles were also killed, his religious edicts were all reversed and a decree was made erasing him from public record.