Justin W, very well spotted and
corrected! It appears to be an extremely
rare variety with the
star in the right
field rather than in the left.
Silver Denarius of Elagabalus, Rome, 220 CEObverse: IMP ANTONINVS
PIVS AVG.
Bust of
Elagabalus, laureate, draped, right.
Reverse: P M TR P III
COS III P P.
Sol,
radiate, naked except for cloak over left shoulder, standing left, raising right hand and holding whip in left hand; in
field,
star.
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.4.el.28bNote: Star can sometimes appear in right
field behind
Sol.
https://www.ikmk.at/object?lang=en&id=ID120632&view=rsThere is a wonderful description of
Sol by the
Forum which would be appropriate to quote here because of the way that the upcoming festive season coincides so perfectly with the popular
Roman festival
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun."
Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the sun god of the later Roman Empire and a patron of soldiers. In 274 the Roman emperor Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. The god was favored by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine. The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them. The date 25 December was selected for Christmas to replace the popular Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun."