A short-lived emperor: Macrinus

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orielensis, Nov 24, 2020.

  1. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    I don't know whether Macrinus is anyone's favorite emperor - but due to the quality of engraving on this recent acquisition, he could become mine:

    Rom – Macrinus, Denar, Jupiter RIC 76b.png
    Macrinus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 217–218 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed short-bearded bust of Macrinus r. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; to left, small figure of Macrinus standing r. 20mm, 3.21g. Ref: RIC IV Macrinus 76b.


    Macrinus began his career under Septimius Severus and served as praetorian prefect under Caracalla. In 217, he was involved in the plot to murder Caracalla. Afterwards, he proclaimed himself emperor together with his son Diadumenian. They were the first Roman emperors who did not hail from the senatorial class. Although Macrinus' policies and actions as a ruler appear rather sound (deflation of currency, peace treaties with the Parthians, Armenians, and Dacians), the remaining members of the Severan dynasty soon gained the upper hand. After defeating Macrinus' forces in battle at Antioch, Julia Maesa, Julia Mamaea and Julia Soaemias managed to install Caracalla's 14-year old cousin Elagabalus on the throne. Macrinus' and Diadumenian's short reign ended with their execution in June 218; Elagabalus turned out to be less of a Severan success than had been hoped for.

    Since Severan period denarii are a focus of my Roman collection, a nice Macrinus was high on my wish list. This one ticked many boxes: it has a wonderful portrait, good style overall, attractive toning, full legends, and a tiny imperial figure standing next to a giant Jupiter to render the reverse interesting. A double die-match, albeit in a different state of die wear, was sold by Roma a while ago, so I don't doubt my coin's authenticity. At some point, I might start looking for a long-bearded Macrinus or even a Diadumenian, but I doubt that will happen in the near future.

    Please show your coins of Macrinus, Diadumenian, or their Severan foes!
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Nice one, @Orielensis! I like that Jupiter reverse!

    Yours has the short beard portrait style. This has the long beard style. Not as long as @dougsmit's but let's not set the bar too high.


    [​IMG]
    Macrinus, AD 217-218.
    Roman AR denarius, 2.94 g, 19.5 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, AD 217.
    Obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Fides Militum standing facing, head right, right foot on helmet and holding a military standard in each hand.
    Refs: RIC 22A; BMCRE 38; Cohen 60; RCV 7345; ERIC II 69.
     
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  4. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    I have the impression that the coinage of Macrinus is generally in better quality than with Caracalla. Do others feel the same way? I believe he restored the silver content of the coins back to pre-Caracalla standard, at least for a while.
    This is one of my finest VF coins, bought at a Stacks auction in 2009. I remember being very pleased when I held it in hand for the first time:

    9DF051B9-C037-478D-8EF4-F24D63C09C59.jpeg
     
  5. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice writeup and coin.

    [​IMG]
    Macrinus (217 - 218 A.D.)
    AR Denarius
    O: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, from front, younger features with medium beard.
    R: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Jupiter standing half left, nude, no cloak, thunderbolt in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand.
    2.73g
    20mm
    Rome Mint, Sep 217 A.D
    RIC IV 15 (S), RSC III 55b, BMCRE V 31, SRCV II 7342, Hunter III

    Ex. Maxwell Hunt Collection

    [​IMG]
    Macrinus (217 -218 A.D.)
    AR Tetradrachm
    MESOPOTAMIA, Carrhae
    O: AVT K M ΟΠ CЄ MAKPINOC CЄ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
    R: ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠATOC, eagle standing facing on bull's head flanked by pellets, head right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
    12.71g
    27mm
    Prieur 827; Bellinger 165
     
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  6. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    Very nice Macrinus.
    I have two, one like yours and one with a long beard, which is enough for me for this ruler.
    image.jpg
    image(1).jpg
     
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  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

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  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  9. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    Sestertii of Macrinus and Diadumenianus:

    Bildschirmfoto 2020-11-24 um 19.57.06.png
    [​IMG]
     
  10. curtislclay

    curtislclay Well-Known Member

    Gogoli's Securitas denarius is a rare and interesting mule: obv. die of c. March-June 218, but coupled with an old rev. die of the last few months of 217.
     
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  11. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Beautiful Macrinus!

    He indeed had quite skilled engravers, and his deliberately increased fineness of his coins means that they were hoarded more than his contemporaries - for a scarcer emperor, his coins really aren't much more expensive in XF versus F/VF (and are rarely found below F!)

    Macrinus denarius salus avg.jpg

    I also snagged this provincial "sestertius" for the reverse
    Macrinus Laodicea ad mare wolf twins.jpg

    Diadumenian is a tough cookie in imperial, thankfully his provincial coinage is plentiful! I'm especially fond of this larger AE from Moesia, Nicopolis
    Diadumenian AE.jpg
     
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  12. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Lovely coin!
    I have a "beardless) Macrinus
    Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosphorus
    EL Stater dated BE 514 (217/8)
    Rhescuporis II 211-27
    Macrinus 217/8
    MacDonald 227/1 00332Q00.jpg
     
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  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    DIADUMENIAN

    [​IMG]
    RI Diadumenian 217-218 AE26 Nikopolis-Nicopolis ad Istrum Homonoia stdg
     
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  14. tenbobbit

    tenbobbit Well-Known Member

    Nope, no Macrinus here ;)

    60214[1].jpg
    83441[1].jpg
    118250[1].jpg
    01395q00[1].jpg
    16810.8.49_1[1].jpg
     
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  15. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    Here's an Assarion of Diadumenian. It was struck at Antioch. BMC 408.

    Diad bmc408 Antioch.JPG Diadum R       Assarion.JPG
     
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  16. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    I only have provincials from this guy :

    Assarion from Hierapolis-Castabala

    E77D85F9-2C8C-46AE-910A-98E1FDA35449.jpeg
    And this one lately stolen from @Justin Lee 's Collection

    69C4758F-8E13-4F7F-A42E-248ADD980C01.jpeg
     
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  17. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Funny but true: Macrinus had his ear pierced according to Garrett Fagan... never seen one on a coin though:
    share5685270963248838147.png
     
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  18. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Denarius of Macrinus 217-218 AD Obv. Bust right laureate cuirassd. Rv VICTORIA PARTHICA. Victory advancing right. RIC 97 2.55 grms 18 mm. It is interesting that Macrinus uses the term Parthica instead of some reference to Persia Photo by W. Hansen macrinus2.jpg
     
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  19. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    It is not unusual for a new emperor to start of with a bit finer coins and soon relapse to the previous level or worse. Macrinus was not around long enough for us to know how things would have gone.
    rn0010bb1672.jpg rn0020bb1200.jpg

    I like the Provincial posted by tenbobbit where the bust of Diadumenian is equal or slightly larger than that of his father.
    Mine from Marcianopolis is a bit unusual in that Diadumenian is on the left and Macrinus is on the right.
    pn1600bb2318.jpg

    I do not have a Rome mint Diadumenian but enjoy several Provincials including this Aphrodite with dolphin from Nikopolis.
    pn1630b01979lg.jpg

    Hint: if you have coins with weak or partial legends watch out for two adjacent pi's on the left side. This is from 'OPPELIUS' and not found on other rulers with whom the coins might be confused. Rome only used one P to spell OPELIUS.
     
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  20. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    I've only got one Macrinus provincial and I do not have a coin of his son yet:

    Macrinus
    217-218 AD
    Nicopolis ad Istrum
    Statius Longinus, Consular Legate
    Obverse: AY K M OΠΠEΛΛI CEYH MAKPINOC, Laureate head right
    Reverse: YTI CTATI ΛONΓINOY NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠP/OC ICT, Nemesis standing forward, head left, holding scales in right hand and cube-rule in left
    ex: @Theodosius
    [​IMG]


    I also have this beautiful Elagabalus denarius that was minted to celebrate his victory over Macrinus and his son:

    Elagabalus
    AR Denarius
    219 AD
    Obverse: IM CAES ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right
    Reverse: VICTOR ANTONINI AVG, Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm branch
    Ex: Warren Esty
    IMG-9835-removebg-preview.png
     
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  21. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

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