The Sacred Black Stone of Elagabal was a large black rock worshiped as a god in Roman Syria. Emesa, Syria became a major city during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) and issued coins to commemorate the event. Other emperors issued similar coins and one emperor was even called Elagabal by historians.

Bronze, 23 mm, 8.71 gm
Obverse:
Laureate head facing right
AVT KAI TI AIΛ ANTΩNEINOC CEB EV
(Augustus Caesar Antoninus Augustus Pius)
Reverse:
Eagle standing right on sacred stone of Elagabal, B in right field
EMICHNWN (Emesa)

Struck: AD 138-161 Emesa Syria

This Roman provincial coin was issued at Emesa, Syria during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161), when it became a major city. The reverse depicts the Black Stone of Emesa, which was worshiped in Syria as the god Elagabal. The stone is believed to be a meteorite. Such stones were very important in the Syrian-Phoenician religion. Elagabal had always been worshipped with much pomp and devotion, accompanied by music and dancing. Elagabal had no statue, but was venerated as a black stone with a round base and a pointed top. On coins, the stone is usually shown with an eagle spreading its wings over the object in a protective way. The cult of Elagabal was later introduced into Rome by the emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (AD 218-222) who was later known as Elagabalus, after his stone. In Rome, the god Elagabal was also known as Sol Invictus (the Invincible Sun). Sol Invictus later became a major god of Rome in the 4th century, and his birthday of December 25 is still celebrated in some places.

Bronze, 25 mm, 13.86 gm
Obverse:
Laureate head right
AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANO CAPICT CEB GEPM DAK
(Emperor Caesar NEP Trajan CAPICT Augustus Germanicus Dacius)
Reverse:
Sacred stone of Zeus Kaisos
Draped with ribbon in shrine with four pillars supporting roof, eagle on top
CELEYKEWN PEIEPIAC SEYC KACIOC

Struck: AD 103-104

Silver, 21 mm, 3.76 gm
Obverse:
Horned, laureate, and draped head facing right
IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
Reverse:
Elagabalus in Syrian priest dress standing left sacrificing out of bowl over lighted altar,
holding branch or club, star left
PM TRP IIII COS III PP

Struck: AD 221 Rome