I just don't know about this guy... He stays back at Samasota during the fatal battle of Edessa ... Emperor Valerian is CAPTURED by the dreaded Persian Sassanian Emperor Shapur I. This (Comes Sacrarum Largitionum), or Count of the Treasury, this chief money counter, has some dubious actions both before the battle as well as AFTER the battle. Valerian's son Gallienus becomes the emperor, but problems in the West keeps him occupied. Macrianus, Count of the Treasury, who does NOT go to the Battle of Edessa, siezes power and becomes a(n) Usurper to claim the title of Emperor... He even has the Treasury that Valerian had brought... All is not lost... Macrianus Major, as his son Macrianus Minor supported his father usurping the throne, marched the Army of the East to Europe. He met Aureolis in 261 in a battle in Thrace. Macrianus Major and Minor lost the battle, surrounded by Aureolis, and were killed. However, cuz I had an Emperor slot to fill, I was able to find this nice Antoninianus from a friend! I received it today, and frankly it is a gorgeous piece, with excellent detail. Better in hand! Stories like these... are why I love the Roman Republic history! Macrianus, Roman emperor (usurper), summer 260 - early summer 261. Rare! Base AR 22. 6:00. 4.42 grams. IMP C FVL MACRIANVS PF AVG SPES PVBLICA * in field left Struck at an uncertain Eastern mint. Typical surfaces. (In this period the metal is rarely better than this.) Sear 3.10811. RIC 13, page 581, "R2" (very rare). Please post your Macrianus, Valerian, Gallienus, Quietus, Shapur I, or any other Characters of this Tragic Play from this era!
Not what you were thinking of but the most common Macrianus is this Provincial AE24 of Nicaea and Byzantium in alliance with two conical baskets on the reverse.
I like the reverse...I have not seen a baskets reverse. What do they signify? I also see that these are lathed coins...
I do not know but seeing two baskets might refer to the cause of the alliance. Baskets were also used as prizes in athletic contests so this could be part of the reason for this issue. There are other issues from other rulers showing those cities in alliance but why baskets is a mystery to me.
interesting new coin and post aleg...i didn't know the story behind this guy. how about another fellow that was a pain in behind for gallienus?
I chose this billon of Emperor Valerian, along with 2 others of Gallienus having respectively Serapis and Jupiter on reverse.
Hey, Macrianus!! => #137 on the ol' ERIC-II Rarity List (for whatever that's worth) Sweet OP-addition, Alegandalf (very cool addition) Ummm, I don't have him, but I do have a Valerian oh, and a few Gallienus' examples ...
My Macrianus: - Samosata mint, / Apollo standing, holding laurel branch and lyre. I have a Quietus somewhere too, but I can't locate my photo right now. These coins are pretty expensive considering their average style and heavily debased silver. The only acquire-able usurper from this period that I don't yet have is Laelianus - and his coins are hideously expensive, boring, and resemble the the worst coins of Victorinus. But i have to have every emperor!
Wonderful coin and historical synopsis 'Al' !! And I wholeheartedly agree with you Terrific posts one and all !! An example I have of --- Macrianus and Gallienus:
Yeah, I kinda felt Macrianus was pond scum. I just landed an Ant of Aureolus, the General who defeated and killed Mac Major and Minor. And Aureolus went on to try and usurp Gallienus! Bunch of shiftless ne'er-do-wells!
Well @Alegandron, I will take that 'pond scum' Ant of Aureolus off your hands....it's the least I can do for a friend and fellow RR collector
LOL! I betcha you would, my Friend! Aureolus was a nasty person, it would be wise to keep him in my prison! I was impressed by the quality of the lettering and strike on the Macrianus. The metal though, looks grodey! Just like the jerk on it! They got 'cheap' with the silver by that time. LOL, PURDY bad when I want to hang on to these two jerks, especially being Empire coins... but, I will ensure the get the punishment they deserve in my prison-album for a good long while...
