Julia Soaemias was mother to Elagabalus and the daughter of Julia Maesa. In AD 217 her cousin, Emperor Caracalla, was killed and Macrinus ascended to the imperial throne. Julia's family was allowed to return to Syria with the whole of their financial assets. But they would not allow the usurper to stand unopposed. Together with her mother, Julia plotted to substitute Macrinus with her son Elagabalus. To legitimise this plot, Julia and her mother spread the rumour that the thirteen-year-old boy was Caracalla's illegitimate son. In AD 218 Macrinus was killed and Bassianus became emperor with the name of Elagabalus. Julia Soaemias and Elagabalus were killed by the Praetorian Guard in AD 222. Julia was later declared a public enemy and her name erased from all records.

Main Roman Coin Book and Other References:

RIC = Mattingly, Harold    The Roman Imperial Coinage
BMC = Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum
RSC = Seaby, H A    Roman Silver Coinage
RCV = Sear, David R    Roman Coins and Their Values
Cr = Crawford, Michael    The Roman Republican Coinage
SB = Sear, David R    Byzantine Coins and Their Values
S = Coins of England and the United Kingdom
WW = Wildwinds.com (reference & attribution site)