Macrinus Sestertius

Julius Germanicus · Nov 21, 2017

A little update: Curtis Clay just pointed out that my OP coin does have a pedigree: It used to belong to Prince Waldeck´s collection in the late 1700s and was sold in Münzhandlung Basel 1935 Auction 3 (this was lot 730).

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Andres2 · Nov 21, 2017

It Keeps getting better, great provenance now added , congrats Julius.

All I have is a bit shabby Macrinus, like cucumber's also from Nikopolis:

Eduard · Nov 21, 2017

A nice provenance is always good. It adds to the appeal of your coin for sure.

galba68 · Nov 21, 2017

Julius Germanicus said: ↑

I finally got to upgrade my shabby Macrinus AE As to a proper Sestertius.

Macrinus was the first Emperor not of Senatorial rank, but a lawyer, legal advisor to Plautianus, and eventually pretorian prefect. Being a lawyer myself, I feel quite sympathetic for him.

I am not going to bore you with the story of his rise and fall and just leave it with one sentence (courtesy of RIC) which sums it up: "Although the reign of Macrinus contributed little to the glory of Imperial Rome, in contrast with the venomous tyranny of Caracalla and the degrading buffoonery of Elagabalus, it must rank as an interlude of sane, if not brilliant statesmanship."

I have tried to do a little write up concentrating on the history of the history of the dies that were used to make my coin, nevertheless heavily relying on Curtis Clays brilliant analysis in Numismatische Zeitschrift, 93 (1979, p.21-40) and that of Dieter Salzmann in Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, 98 (1983, p.351-381)

After Macrinus was proclaimed emperor in Mesopotamia on April 11, 217, following the assassination of Caracalla three days earlier, the news of his accession must have reached Rome in the first half of May, 217.
After public vows were performed for Macrinus and his son Diadumenianus, who had been proclaimed Caesar by the Senate, the Roman mint immediately began the production of a first emission in all three metals.

In the first four months of his reign, Macrinus was shown with younger features and a short, cropped beard (Type 1 according to Salzmann).

While the obverse legend IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS was not altered during all of his reign, the different emissions are distinguished by the evolvement of the reverse types and legends, which during the first emission conclude with P M TR P on the dated issues (showing the types of Felicitas, Fides, Jupiter, Salus and Securitas).

While he production of the regular silver denominations (Denarii and Antoniniani) was carried on in the same scale of his predecessor, the production of in gold and bronze was very limited.

In fact, it was so limited that only one single obverse die was used for the production of Sestertii at this stage (Die 1 in the appendix of Curtis Clay´s work, illustrated on plate 4, Nr.1). Curtis Clay found no less than nine reverse types combined with this die during it´s service life, but none of the first emission showing Felicitas.

Around late July 217, the first emission was succeeded by a second emission in all three metals, in which the legend of the dated issues was changed to PONTIF MAX TR PPP.

The production of Sestertii was still limited to the same single obverse die (Clay Nr.1). The Felicitas Sestertius of this type is listed as RIC 121 (Tinchant Collection).

Around 1 September 217, the short cropped beard is succeeded by a medium beard on the gold, silver and bronze coinage (Salzmann type 2).

To accomplish this feat on the bronze coinage, a second Sestertius obverse die was produced, likewise showing a cuirassed bust left seen from the front, but featuring a medium beard (Die 2 according to Curtis Clay). This ist the very die used for my coin (the Vienna specimen illustrated on Plate 5, Nr.24 in Clay´s article).

For the Felicitas type, it was combined with two reverse dies showing the goddess and the legend PONTIF MAX TR PPP (RIC 119, Cohen 80, BRMCRE 113, Sear 7391)

Next, around 1 October 217, on the basis of his new Consular ornaments, COS was added to Macrinus´ numismatic titulature, which now read PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP. Therefore,

Both obverse dies were now combined (amongst other types) with new new Felicitas reverse dies with the legend PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP.

Only one coin featuring a combination oft the short bearded Sestertius obverse die (Sear 1) with this Felicitas reverse has ever been heard of (RIC 140, Luneau Catalogue 1923, 1957. This is no surprise because the portrait on that die was soon re-engraved to feature a medium-sized beard resembling the one on the second (my) die. This second state of the original obverse die is documented in Clay´s plate 4, Nr.5.

The combination oft the medium-bearded Sestertius obverse die (Clay Nr.2) with the same Felicitas reverse is known as RIC 139, Cohen 66, Sear 7386.

This combination was used to strike my coin. There is a double die matching Sestertius on the market (Roma 04.05.2007 = Roma 02.10.2011= Künker 08.10.2012 = Roma 30.04.2016, https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1099613 , but I have no suspicion of either being a cast. Even though the other example is rated EF in the Roma 2011 catalogue, I find it inferior to mine, which was graded choice VF with Strike 5/5 and Surface 5/5 by NGC (I did free it from the plastic box at once ).

IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG
Laureate and cuirassed bust right, featuring a medium beard, from the front
PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP S C
Felicitas standing facing, head left, long caduceus in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, drapery over left arm
Sestertius, Rome, 1.Oct.-31.Dec.217
20,5 gr, 31 mm
RIC IV 139, Cohen 66, Sear 7386, Clay Nr.2

View attachment 616892

View attachment 616893

The Sestertius output was then (October 217 onwards) increased by creating eight more obverse dies, all featuring longer beards (Salzmann type 3), some showing Macrinus cuirassed bust from the front (Clay Nr. 4, 7 and 11), while others differed in showing his bust not only cuirassed, but also draped (Clay Nr. 3, 5, 6, 9, 10). The medium-bearded die Nr.2 was not recut.

When Macrinus took up his first real consulship on 1 January 218, yet another change in the numismatic titulature occured, as the Roman mint, without awaiting his instructions, changed the reverse legend to COS II, which resulted in PONTIF MAX TR P II COS II on the corresponding Sestertius types, the Felicitas type being known as RIC 155, Cohen 95.

This was reverted to PONTIF MAX TR P II COS PP around 1 Feb 218, the Felicitas type of this is listed as RIC 149, Cohen 84.

There is also an undated Felicitas type Sestertius with the legend FELICITAS TEMPORUM, minted during Macrinus’ second Emission, RIC 172, Cohen 16, BMCRE p. 524, Sear 7376.

Macrinus’ second Emission ended in early March 218 and with it not only the use of my coin´s classy obverse die and with it the medium length beard alltogether, but also the use oft Felicitas on Macrinus coinage.
Click to expand...

bronze head of imp macrinus

Alegandron · Nov 21, 2017

Great upgrade and GREAT provenance on your Sesterius @Julius Germanicus !

LOL, I still have my AE As from Macrinus. I like it because of the facing quadrigatus... kinda cool perspective.

RI Macrinus 217-218 AE25 CE Facing Quadriga
Ex @Valentinian

Eduard · Nov 21, 2017

I say it again, that is a very impressive sestertius of Macrinus you have there J.G!

I lack a sestertius of Macrinus, but do have this dupondius in my collection:

And this denarius:

ancient coin hunter · Nov 21, 2017

I've got a provincial bronze, but that's it (so far)!

Reverse is much better than the obverse. Uncleaned hoard, so I don't know which city issued it, but I could make out that it was Macrinus.

Valentinian · Nov 21, 2017

@Julius Germanicus, that is a splendid sestertius. What a beauty! And, I especially appreciate the interesting writeup. I like it when posters show they have studied their coins.

TJC · Nov 21, 2017

@Julius Germanicus. Now that is an awesome sestertius!!! And thanks for the very cool write up!

Roman Collector · Nov 21, 2017

Julius Germanicus said: ↑

A little update: Curtis Clay just pointed out that my OP coin does have a pedigree: It used to belong to Prince Waldeck´s collection in the late 1700s and was sold in Münzhandlung Basel 1935 Auction 3 (this was lot 730).

View attachment 704418
View attachment 704417
Click to expand...

Wow! What provenance!

lordmarcovan · Nov 22, 2017

Julius Germanicus said: ↑

A little update: Curtis Clay just pointed out that my OP coin does have a pedigree: It used to belong to Prince Waldeck´s collection in the late 1700s and was sold in Münzhandlung Basel 1935 Auction 3 (this was lot 730).

View attachment 704418
View attachment 704417
Click to expand...

WOW again!

Julius Germanicus · Nov 22, 2017

Eduard said: ↑

I say it again, that is a very impressive sestertius of Macrinus you have there J.G!

I lack a sestertius of Macrinus, but do have this dupondius in my collection:
View attachment 704466 View attachment 704467
Click to expand...

Your Dupondius (RIC 161) is extremely rare with maybe only 3 known. The revers seems to anticipate Macrinus´ Adventus, maybe during a New Year´s procession in order to receive the consular ornaments, but of course he never made it to Rome.
Puzzeling enough, is also known with an obverse showing a short cropped beard, which should indicate the type was struck at multiple occasions.

Blake Davis · Dec 20, 2017

Magnificent coin! I recently purchased a Macrinus sestertius with a platform scene reverse ("LIBERALITAS AUGUSTI") from a seller on eBay from Dubai - RIC 194. It has some of the sandy patina typical of coins found in the desert. The portrait has a cuirassed bust which is unlike most of the sestertii of Macrinus. The only other example I have been able to find is in the British museum. Curtis Clay indicated that another example is in “Vienna.” The British Museum example has the same bust type but not the same dies. I can try to upload a photograph.

Do you know of any links to the articles referenced in this note?

Julius Germanicus · Dec 21, 2017

Blake Davis said: ↑

Magnificent coin! I recently purchased a Macrinus sestertius with a platform scene reverse ("LIBERALITAS AUGUSTI") from a seller on eBay from Dubai - RIC 194. It has some of the sandy patina typical of coins found in the desert. The portrait has a cuirassed bust which is unlike most of the sestertii of Macrinus. The only other example I have been able to find is in the British museum. Curtis Clay indicated that another example is in “Vienna.” The British Museum example has the same bust type but not the same dies. I can try to upload a photograph.

Do you know of any links to the articles referenced in this note?
Click to expand...

Congratulations to your purchase! Please let us see pictures so we can tell you more about it. It would be interesting to know if it is a short, medium, or long bearded portrait and if the obverse bust is cuirassed only or draped and cuirassed and if it is seen from the front ("open) or back ("closed").

Clay ("The Roman Coinage of Macrinus and Diadumenian" in Numismatische Zeitschrift 1979, p. 21) only cited the LIBERALITAS AVG reverse in combination with draped and cuirassed obverse portraits featuring the long beard (die Nr. I. 5 of issue 2 (hair on head still short; he cites Feuardent, 20.April 1896, Montagu, 535), and, featuring the same reverse die, obverse dies Nr. I. 8-11 of issue 3 (hair on head long, he cites BMC 5, pl. 80,9; Hirsch 8, 1903, 2611; Rollin-Feuardent, 21.May 1889, 473; Hirsch 18, 1907, 1167). Also dies II.12 (short hair on head; Vienna 15918) and 13 (long hair on head, Münzhandlung Basel 3, 1935, 729 - Waldeck collection and C.L.Clay collection).

Here is another one, recently sold by CGB.fr on their online shop for 1.250 €:

Clay cites seven obverse dies with a cuirassed only (not draped) portrait, but none of those combined with a LIBERALITAS AVG reverse.

Alegandron · Dec 21, 2017

Blake Davis said: ↑

Magnificent coin! I recently purchased a Macrinus sestertius with a platform scene reverse ("LIBERALITAS AUGUSTI") from a seller on eBay from Dubai - RIC 194. It has some of the sandy patina typical of coins found in the desert. The portrait has a cuirassed bust which is unlike most of the sestertii of Macrinus. The only other example I have been able to find is in the British museum. Curtis Clay indicated that another example is in “Vienna.” The British Museum example has the same bust type but not the same dies. I can try to upload a photograph.

Do you know of any links to the articles referenced in this note?
Click to expand...

Welcome @Blake Davis ! Nice to see you here! I enjoy your eBay site.

Restitutor Orbis · Feb 1, 2022

Julius Germanicus said: ↑

I finally got to upgrade my shabby Macrinus AE As to a proper Sestertius.

Macrinus was the first Emperor not of Senatorial rank, but a lawyer, legal advisor to Plautianus, and eventually pretorian prefect. Being a lawyer myself, I feel quite sympathetic for him.

I am not going to bore you with the story of his rise and fall and just leave it with one sentence (courtesy of RIC) which sums it up: "Although the reign of Macrinus contributed little to the glory of Imperial Rome, in contrast with the venomous tyranny of Caracalla and the degrading buffoonery of Elagabalus, it must rank as an interlude of sane, if not brilliant statesmanship."

I have tried to do a little write up concentrating on the history of the history of the dies that were used to make my coin, nevertheless heavily relying on Curtis Clays brilliant analysis in Numismatische Zeitschrift, 93 (1979, p.21-40) and that of Dieter Salzmann in Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, 98 (1983, p.351-381)

After Macrinus was proclaimed emperor in Mesopotamia on April 11, 217, following the assassination of Caracalla three days earlier, the news of his accession must have reached Rome in the first half of May, 217.
After public vows were performed for Macrinus and his son Diadumenianus, who had been proclaimed Caesar by the Senate, the Roman mint immediately began the production of a first emission in all three metals.

In the first four months of his reign, Macrinus was shown with younger features and a short, cropped beard (Type 1 according to Salzmann).

While the obverse legend IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS was not altered during all of his reign, the different emissions are distinguished by the evolvement of the reverse types and legends, which during the first emission conclude with P M TR P on the dated issues (showing the types of Felicitas, Fides, Jupiter, Salus and Securitas).

While he production of the regular silver denominations (Denarii and Antoniniani) was carried on in the same scale of his predecessor, the production of in gold and bronze was very limited.

In fact, it was so limited that only one single obverse die was used for the production of Sestertii at this stage (Die 1 in the appendix of Curtis Clay´s work, illustrated on plate 4, Nr.1). Curtis Clay found no less than nine reverse types combined with this die during it´s service life, but none of the first emission showing Felicitas.

Around late July 217, the first emission was succeeded by a second emission in all three metals, in which the legend of the dated issues was changed to PONTIF MAX TR PPP.

The production of Sestertii was still limited to the same single obverse die (Clay Nr.1). The Felicitas Sestertius of this type is listed as RIC 121 (Tinchant Collection).

Around 1 September 217, the short cropped beard is succeeded by a medium beard on the gold, silver and bronze coinage (Salzmann type 2).

To accomplish this feat on the bronze coinage, a second Sestertius obverse die was produced, likewise showing a cuirassed bust left seen from the front, but featuring a medium beard (Die 2 according to Curtis Clay). This ist the very die used for my coin (the Vienna specimen illustrated on Plate 5, Nr.24 in Clay´s article).

For the Felicitas type, it was combined with two reverse dies showing the goddess and the legend PONTIF MAX TR PPP (RIC 119, Cohen 80, BRMCRE 113, Sear 7391)

Next, around 1 October 217, on the basis of his new Consular ornaments, COS was added to Macrinus´ numismatic titulature, which now read PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP. Therefore,

Both obverse dies were now combined (amongst other types) with new new Felicitas reverse dies with the legend PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP.

Only one coin featuring a combination oft the short bearded Sestertius obverse die (Sear 1) with this Felicitas reverse has ever been heard of (RIC 140, Luneau Catalogue 1923, 1957. This is no surprise because the portrait on that die was soon re-engraved to feature a medium-sized beard resembling the one on the second (my) die. This second state of the original obverse die is documented in Clay´s plate 4, Nr.5.

The combination oft the medium-bearded Sestertius obverse die (Clay Nr.2) with the same Felicitas reverse is known as RIC 139, Cohen 66, Sear 7386.

This combination was used to strike my coin. There is a double die matching Sestertius on the market (Roma 04.05.2007 = Roma 02.10.2011= Künker 08.10.2012 = Roma 30.04.2016, https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1099613 , but I have no suspicion of either being a cast. Even though the other example is rated EF in the Roma 2011 catalogue, I find it inferior to mine, which was graded choice VF with Strike 5/5 and Surface 5/5 by NGC (I did free it from the plastic box at once ).

IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG
Laureate and cuirassed bust right, featuring a medium beard, from the front
PONTIF MAX TR P COS PP S C
Felicitas standing facing, head left, long caduceus in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, drapery over left arm
Sestertius, Rome, 1.Oct.-31.Dec.217
20,5 gr, 31 mm
RIC IV 139, Cohen 66, Sear 7386, Clay Nr.2

View attachment 616892

View attachment 616893

The Sestertius output was then (October 217 onwards) increased by creating eight more obverse dies, all featuring longer beards (Salzmann type 3), some showing Macrinus cuirassed bust from the front (Clay Nr. 4, 7 and 11), while others differed in showing his bust not only cuirassed, but also draped (Clay Nr. 3, 5, 6, 9, 10). The medium-bearded die Nr.2 was not recut.

When Macrinus took up his first real consulship on 1 January 218, yet another change in the numismatic titulature occured, as the Roman mint, without awaiting his instructions, changed the reverse legend to COS II, which resulted in PONTIF MAX TR P II COS II on the corresponding Sestertius types, the Felicitas type being known as RIC 155, Cohen 95.

This was reverted to PONTIF MAX TR P II COS PP around 1 Feb 218, the Felicitas type of this is listed as RIC 149, Cohen 84.

There is also an undated Felicitas type Sestertius with the legend FELICITAS TEMPORUM, minted during Macrinus’ second Emission, RIC 172, Cohen 16, BMCRE p. 524, Sear 7376.

Macrinus’ second Emission ended in early March 218 and with it not only the use of my coin´s classy obverse die and with it the medium length beard alltogether, but also the use oft Felicitas on Macrinus coinage.
Click to expand...

Hi
I bought the double die matching Sestertius to your Macrinus on Roma some months ago.

They are both loveley coins. You have some interesting historical facts about your coin. Have you found out anything similar about mine?

Julius Germanicus · Feb 1, 2022

Restitutor Orbis said: ↑

Hi
I bought the double die matching Sestertius to your Macrinus on Roma some months ago.

They are both loveley coins. You have some interesting historical facts about your coin. Have you found out anything similar about mine?

View attachment 1435088 View attachment 1435089
Click to expand...

Congratulations to your new acquisition!

I do not know any further info about the provenance of your coin except it's recent auction history (Roma 04.05.2007, Roma 02.10.2011, Künker 08.10.2012, Roma 30.04.2016, Roma 07.02.2019, Roma 06.02.2020, and Roma 17.06.2021).

You might find it interesting that Banti (Nr.36) lists a single specimen of RIC 139 / Cohen 36, that in the Bibliotheque National in Paris, which is from the same reverse die as ours but looks to feature a long beard portrait on the obverse.

Another specimen from the same obverse but a different reverse die as ours is NAC 20.05.2015, lot 1970.

Clay lists half a dozen specimens of this obverse die combined with other reverse types.

Restitutor Orbis · Feb 1, 2022

Julius Germanicus said: ↑

Congratulations to your new acquisition!

I do not know any further info about the provenance of your coin except it's recent auction history (Roma 04.05.2007, Roma 02.10.2011, Künker 08.10.2012, Roma 30.04.2016, Roma 07.02.2019, Roma 06.02.2020, and Roma 17.06.2021).

You might find it interesting that Banti (Nr.36) lists a single specimen of RIC 139 / Cohen 36, that in the Bibliotheque National in Paris, which is from the same reverse die as ours but looks to feature a long beard portrait on the obverse.

Another specimen from the same obverse but a different reverse die as ours is NAC 20.05.2015, lot 1970.

Clay lists half a dozen specimens of this obverse die combined with other reverse types.
Click to expand...

I do find that interesting to know. Thank you very much.
By the way, Your collection of sestertii is very impressive.

Blake Davis · Feb 2, 2022

Restitutor Orbis said: ↑

Hi
I bought the double die matching Sestertius to your Macrinus on Roma some months ago.

They are both loveley coins. You have some interesting historical facts about your coin. Have you found out anything similar about mine?

View attachment 1435088 View attachment 1435089
Click to expand...

This is a spectacular coin and nicely photographed - can you post the weight and size? Thanks - Blake

Blake Davis · Feb 2, 2022

Alegandron said: ↑

Welcome @Blake Davis ! Nice to see you here! I enjoy your eBay site.
Click to expand...

Thanks - 22 years and still going strong.

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