I'm a family guy. I found it sad that my poor Macrianus was all alone in his tray for almost a year now. No question of joining his father to my collection since it seems that he has not struck any coins for himself. So I was looking for at least one example of his little brother Quietus at a price and in a condition that suited me. It must be recognized that a decent specimen rarely costs less than $ 100 ... but finally bidding after bidding and being outbid many times...I got a nice one. It's won't win the title of "Coin of the year" but its condition is matching its new owner appearance: fine with some circulation wear... The history Macrianus was Emperor Valerian's right-hand man. He had 2 sons; Macrianus Junior, the eldest, and Quietus, the younger. After the victory won by the Persian king Shapur over Valerian, whom he took prisoner, Macrianus and the army chief, Balista, succeeded in assembling the dispersed and routed Roman troops. These forces put to flight the enemies who were pillaging the countries and had penetrated as far as Cilicia and Lycaonia. After this success the army wanted to elect Macrianus Senior Emperor. The General, given his advanced age, refused and rather proposed his two sons, who were tribune in the army of Valerian. This happened in September 260 AD. The eastern cities readily accepted these new rulers. Egypt also recognized the power of the two co-Emperors. Not wanting to be content with just a part of the Empire, Macrianus Senior and Junior set out for Rome, passing through Asia Minor, accompanied by 30,000 of the best soldiers. The younger Quietus remained in the East. In Illyria the army of Aureolus barred their passage, lured them into a trap and caused their complete defeat; father and son were put to death. Having learned it, Odaenathus, Sovereign of Palmyra (also husband of the famous Zenobia) and allied to the Emperor Gallienus, conquered Emesa and had Quietus and Balista who resided there assassinated. This tragic outcome took place in December 261 AD. The surrender of Valerian, rock relief in Iran. The coinage According to RIC, "both sons struck someone freely in the Latin series, certainly in Asia, perhaps at Antioch". The city of Samosata has also been mentioned as a possibility of minting place. David Vagi also wrote :"coins were struck at two mints in the East and can be distinguished on the basis of style. The work at the main mint is of superior style, and the smaller output of the ancillary mint is of cruder style. The location of neither mint is certainly known, though Emesa is an obvious candidate for one of them". Macrianus Junior only minted rare aurei and also billon double-denarii. Quietus, meanwhile, produced aurei, double-denarii and some rare bronze asses ( if you find one for sale, jump on it cause they rarely appear on the market). More details about their coinage : Reverse Legends they both share : AEQVITAS AVGG AEQVTAS AVGG (sic) APOLINI CONSERVA FORT REDVX INDVLGENTIAE AVG IOVI CONSERVATORI MARTI PROPVGNATORI ROMAE AETERNAE SOL INVICTO SPES PVBLICA VICTORIA AVGG Unique to Macrianus : CONSERVATRICI AVG (aurei) Unique to Quietus : PIETAS AVG APOLLINI CONSERVA INDULGNTIAE AVG (sic) (A "new" and very rare type for Quietus has not been described in RIC, the Victory on globe, only 3 specimen known according to Göbl). So here are the two members of the family reunited. Please feel free to show me yours. You can also add your Valerian to the story, and if you want to scrap my family party, why don't you bring a Gallienus example ??? Macrianus billion Antoninianus Antioch or Samosata. 21mm 3.30g APOLINI CONSERVA Apollo holding branch & lyre RIC 6 Quietus billion Antoninianus Antioch(?) 22mm 3.87g AEQVTAS AVGG Aequitas holding scales & cornucopiae RIC 2
I acquired a Macrianus as part of a mixed lot. I am almost ashamed to share it given the poor condition but....
Here's one of Macrianus. Can't exactly recall the price but I think it was around $250. Macrianus, A.D. 260-261 Type: AE antoninianus, 22 mm 3.1 grams, Antioch mint. Obverse: IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right Reverse: APOLINI CONSERVA, Apollo standing left holding branch and resting hand on lyre set on a low column. Reference: RIC 6; RSC 2; Sear 10799.
Nice write up and coins, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix ... MACRIANUS RI Macrianus 260-261 CE Usurper AR 22mm 4.4g BI Ant Spes Publica star Sear 3.10811. RIC 13 pg 581 R2 R QUIETUS RI Quietus usurper 260-261 CE Ant 3-74g Samasota mint Indulgentia patera scepter RIC V 5 VALERIAN RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AR Ant Felicitas stndg Caduceus and Cornucopia VALERIAN II RI Valerian II 256-258 CE Silvered Ant PRINCIP IVVENTVS GALLIENUS RI Gallienus Silvered Æ Ant CE 263-264 AVG rad cuiras R Hercules R lion skin club star RIC 673
Here's my Valerian family with the two usurpers - all in tetradrachms from Alexandria, Egypt. Valerian Gallienus Valerian II Saloninus Macrianus Quietus With a write up on these coins here.
Quietus Antioch mint Billon Antoninianus Obv: IMP C FVL QVIETVS P F AVG Rev: APOLINI CONSERVA - Apollo, standing left, holding laurel branch, left hand on lyre RIC (Vol.V, Part II) 3 22mm, 3.1g. Macrianus Antioch mint Billon Antoninianus Obv: IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG Rev: SPES PVBLICA - Spes, walking left, holding flower and raising robe ✳ in left field RIC (Vol.V, Part II) 13 22mm, 2.9g.
+1 MACRIANUS, Antoninianus Antioch, 260-261 4.82 g - 22 mm S 10801 - C 6 - RIC Vb 8 IMP C FVL MACRIANVS PF AVG, Radiate bust right INDVLGENTIAE AVG, Indulgentia seated left QUIETUS, Antoninianus Antioch, 260-261 4.22 g - 20 mm S 10829 - C 12 - RIC Vb 10 IMP C FVL QVIETVS PF AVG, Radiate bust right SOLI INVICTO, Sol std left
I have another Quietus that had not gotten recorded in my database. Bought back in 2016. Just kinda hanging around, wanting to be loved. This version appears to be Rare? And I have only seen a couple in ACSearch, Wildwinds, and CNG (which one is mine). Anyone familiar with this issue? Roman Imperial Quietus (Usurper, 260-261). AR Antoninianus (21mm, 4.55g, 5h). Antioch mint Obv: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev: Fortuna seated l., holding cornucopia and sceptre; star in l. field. Ref: RIC V 4; RSC 5. R2 VF
Thank you. I do not have a RIC reference at home. (yeah, I know, that is no excuse... just being lazy)
