Macrinus short lived emperor for just over 1 year, after he lost the war against the Parthians he became unpopular with the army and was slain in 218 at age 54.
A sad emperor, squeezed between ruthless Caracalla, with whose death he may have had nothing to do, and swollen-headed boy priest Elagabal, who 14 year old received a whole empire from his grandmother Iulia Maesa. Macrinus had to consent in an unfavorable peace with the Parthians. He put his son Diadumenianus on the throne as Caesar, but in a year lost it all against Caracalla's female family with Elagabal as a figurehead. Macrinus never in his reign made it to Rome. He was grabbed while on the refuge and executed, and so was young Diadumenianus. This is a nice pentassarion from Marcianopolis (now in Bulgaria), 26 mm, 12.17 gr., once in the collection of the Money Museum in Zurich, but now happily cushioned in mine.
Macrinus Coin: Bronze IMP C M OPE SEV MACRINVS PI - Radiate head right – seen from behind COL F L PAC DEVLT - Priest veiled, driving two oxen Mint: Deultum (217-218 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 9.25g / 23mm / - Acquisition/Sale: $0.00 Notes: Aug 4, 13 - This act was part of the city founding ceremony. Reverse die match with Moushmov Plate XXII (3)
Nice capture @Andres2 ! Macrinus: RI Macrinus 217-218 AE25 CE Facing Quadriga Didumenian: RI Didumenian and Macrinus 217-218 CE AE28 Markianopolis mint Serapis
To me the interesting point is how many interesting Provincials there are for Macrinus and Diadumenian (separate or two headed) and how inexpensive many are compared to the Rome mint issues. Both categories seem to come in short and long beard portraits. It would seem much of the time Macrinus reigned was spent growing hair. Long beard Provincial portraits seem less common. Two denarii: Diadumenian / Aphrodite - Nicopolis
WC Fields or Macrinus? Pamphylia, Magydus. Macrinus AE24. AphroditeObv: Macrinus bust r. Rev: Aphrodite semi-nude, standing facing, head right, smoothing hair, bird at feet. SNG Paris 311. Moesia, Markianopolis. Macrinus AE26. Governor PontianusMacrinus, 217 - 218 AD. AE26, 9.91gm. Obv: AVT K OΠEΛΛIOC CEVN MAKPEINOC, laureate, cuirassed bust right Rev: VΠ ΠONTIANOV MA[PKIANOΠO]ΛEI TΩN, eagle right, standing on thunderbolt, holding wreath in beak. AMNG I 714
uh.. i was just bidding on a provincial Marcrinus Gabala and it went for $40.00us. it was a neat coin, but i'm saving up to buy sumpin else.
Macrinus brings up a numismatic dilemma for me. If you were going to keep only one of these two, which would it be? Denarius A (higher grade, but rough & smaller beard; Salus): Denarius B (lower grade, but smooth and longer beard; Jupiter): I know most of you would say "both" but that is not allowed.
Coin A may be higher grade, but for me Coin B, with its evenly worn surfaces and light toning, has greater appeal.
Congrats on two great coins with lovely portraits, one thing about coins like yours that show a few surface pits and wear, straight away you can tell they are genuine 1800 year old coins, I would be happy to have in my collection.
My congratulations on your Macrinus, Andres. Here are my examples, for Macrinus and his unfortunate son.