Macrinus denarius with a nice "long-beard" portrait

I have wanted a denarius of Macrinus with a "long-bearded" portrait for a long time, and after waiting for the "right" one to come along, I finally was able to land a nice example. There were a number of different portrait styles of Macrinus throughout his short reign, but his coins with a long-bearded portrait are by far my favorite, so I'm very happy to have added this one to my collection.

After conspiring to assassinate Caracalla and taking over as emperor, Macrinus soon began to grow an absolutely majestic beard, which resulted in (in my opinion) some of the best Imperial portraits of the 3rd Century. For many reasons, Macrinus was clearly not a successful ruler, but if nothing else, he certainly looked the part.



Macrinus, AR Denarius (20mm, 3.13g), Struck March-June 218 A.D., Rome.
IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG., Laureate and draped bust of Macrinus with long beard, right/ Rev. P M TR P II COS P P, Macrinus seated left on curule chair, holding globus and sceptre. RIC 27. Clay Issue 3.
(I believe that the dating of this coin is correct, but please correct me if I don't have it right.)

Here are a couple of close-up photos of the coin's obverse in hand(which could probably use a better photographer). Though the reverse is a bit weak, I think that this portrait more than makes up for it. This coin is definitely one of my favorite new additions of the year, I just love this portrait and the detail on that beard.



After just over a year, the remaining members of the Severan dynasty, who were not yet ready to give up their grip on power, deposed Macrinus and had him executed. After his death, Macrinus was succeeded by teenaged emperors Elagabalus and then Severus Alexander, whose pathetic beards were so embarrassing to the people of Rome that the Empire plunged into what is known as the "Crisis of the Third Century," from which the Empire never fully recovered.*

(*NOTE- Some scholars contend that there were perhaps other, non beard-related causes for the Crisis of the Third Century).

Very happy to have added this coin, and would love to see some of yours! Please share your coins of Macrinus, any of your favorite bearded portraits, or anything else relevant!

 

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I have not done an in depth beard study of Macrinus but would first have to address whether the differences were reflective of his appearance or just as he was imagined in different places over time. I do not have a Provincial with a long beard.

Rome denarius short


Rome denarius long


Nicopolis


Nikomedia


Marcianopolis


also Marcianopolis but switch places with Diadumenian

 

I 100% support your interpretation of the beard induced crisis of the third century. I mean... how can weak beards like this rule over an empire of lumberjack-loving manly-men?

...pathetic!

...in fact, it would not be until Julian II 140 years later that the empire would right itself... beard-wise


In all seriousness wonderful coin addition! That is indeed an epic portrait.

 

Beautiful coin! I very much like the style of your long-bearded portrait.

My only Macrinus has less facial hair:

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.

 

I have a medium beard, which is a bit scarcer.


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

 

Postumus is offended.

 

A splendid portrait on you new denarius!

For proof that Macrinus was wearing his beard short when be became emperor, but then let it grow, so that the long beard became standard from c. September 217 on, see my paper on the coinage of Macrinus, in English, in Num. Zeitschrift 93, 1979. Herodian even states explicitly that Macrinus as emperor imitated Marcus Aurelius by, among other things, "cultivating his beard."

 

Only one Macrinus and he is sadly beardless.

Macrinus
Pentassarion
Nicopolis ad Istrum
Obverse: AY K M ΟΠΠΕΛΛI CEYH [MAKPINOC] Laureate head of Macrinus to right
Reverse: ΥΠ CTATI ΛΟΝΓΙΝΟΥ NIKOΠΟΛITΩN ΠP/OC ICT Nemesis standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and cube-rule in her left


I think the winner of most godly beardlyist beard to ever beard (at least in the FF collection) is this beauty. I think the flowing locks really add to the overall effect.

Ptolemy IV
AE38
Ptolemaic Kingdom
221-205 BC
Obverse: Diademed head of Zeus Ammon right
Reverse: ΠTOΛEMIAOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, looking back at cornucopiae under right wing.

 

Thanks! Some great examples so far! Since there have been a few provincials posted, I figure I may as well share in this thread some tetradrachms of Macrinus that I've added over the past year or so. There's definitely a lot more variety in portrait style in these tetradrachms from the Eastern mints, I always enjoy these.


Macrinus, Syria, Emesa mint, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 14.47 g). AYT K M OΠ CЄ•••MAKPINOC CЄ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. ΔΗΜΑΡX ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Π Π Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Shamash to left. Prieur 974.



Macrinus, Syria, Cyrrhestica. Hierapolis, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.13 g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, lion walking right. Prieur 943.


Macrinus, Phoenicia (Tyre), BI tetradrachm, (25 mm, 12.52 g). ΑΥΤ•ΚΑΙ•Μ•ΟΠ•CЄ•ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC•CЄ• Laureate head of Macrinus to right. Rev. •ΔΗΜΑΡΧ•ЄΞ•ΥΠΑΤΟC•Π Π• Eagle with spread wings standing facing on club, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, murex shell. Prieur 1554.

 

Excellent beard and bust on that denarius @Shea19!

Here are a couple with long beards.

Syria, Antiochia ad Orontem. Macrinus AE16



Lydia, Gordus Julia. Macrinus Æ29. Cult statue of Kore.


I have wanted one of these from Caesarea Maritima(not mine) ever since I saw the beard.

 

That's quite a beard @Shea19 and wonderful acquisition


Nicopolis mint
AVT KM .... H MAKRINOC, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right
V M AGRIPPA NIKOPOLITWNPROC IC TR, Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia and rudder
14.26 gr
Ref : ANMG #1710

Q

 

Excellent examples.
I have, probably, the most common Macrinus coin but it ticks the box


Macrinus (217-218) Syria: Antiochia ad Orontem, c. AD 217-218 AE20
AVT K MOC MAKPINOC CE - laureate head right.
Rev. SC within laurel wreath above, Δ below, ε.
McAlee 723; Butcher 463a.
3,91 g, 20 mm
Favorite beards? Pretty surprised nobody mentioned ...

 

As Doug suggests, it's hard to imagine Macrinus with a long beard. Macrinus was a military man when he became emperor, & soldiers typically had short beards. Macrinus was assassinated after a short reign of 14 months. How long can a beard grow in 14 months ? Pictured below is my favorite Tet of Macrinus with a short beard.

 

From Google:

"A full beard can take 2 to 4 months to grow, as facial hair tends to grow between 0.3 and 0.5 millimeters (mm) every 24 hours. This works out to between one third and one half an inch per month."

So growing one inch of additional beard will take from 2 to 3 months. Macrinus could have added about 2 inches of new growth between his accession in April 217, when he was short-bearded, until c. September 217, when the long beard began to appear on his coins.

 

Not sure. But when I retire from the military in a few months, I'll let you know

 

When I decided to let my beard grow, it took less than a month. And I don't wear something like the 5 o clock shade (at all). I have to trim it once every 2 weeks (tops) otherwise I look like a combination between Santa Claus and a hobo. But then again, genetics help or not, depending on the angle of view.
I have a 40 year old cousin who shaves twice a year and he has the facial hair of a 15 years old.

@Al Kowsky - fantastic coin. I think the engraver had Caracalla in mind?

 

Thanks for the research .

When I was in the army, 1967-1970, if the drill Sargent even saw you with "peach fuzz" it was 20 pushups . If he saw you like that the following day it was 40 .

 

I've only had a few occasions in my near 20 years to grow a "beard". No more than a few weeks at a time.
My wife says that it's a good thing because if I had a beard we'd have 20 more kids!

 

....hahaha ><

 

A long-bearded version:


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.