Diadumenian - Somehow they Never Make It

In my reading of Roman Emperors and usurpers I have noticed that no matter how long the head start those fleeing after either a coup or a lost battle seem never to escape. Despite running head starts no one manages to get wherever they are fleeing - the assassins always get their man...or child. After Macrinus lost to Maesa and Elagabalus, Diadumenian was sent to Parthia but, of course, was caught even though Parthia was literally next door. Same with Caesarion after the death of Mark Antony - same as everyone else - I'll see if I can supplement with other examples.

Diadumenian, born in 208 AD, was the son of Macrinus and served as Augustus for a less than a month in 218. Diadumenian became Caesar in May 217, shortly after his father's accession to the imperial throne. Julia Maesa used her nephew Elagabalus to support a revolt in May of the following year. After Macrinus was defeated in battle on June 8, 218, Diadumenian was sent to the court of Artabanus IV in Parthia; however, he was captured and executed before reaching the nearby kingdom. I do not believe that any imperial bronze coins of Diadumenian as Augustus have ever been discovered.

When I first started collecting ancient coins in 1999, Diadumenian's sestertii seemed almost never to appear, but I have noticed - purely anecdotal - that his sestertii, although not common, appear for sale much more often than previously. Acsearch lists approximately 180 sestertii. RIC lists two major varieties - the PRINC IVVENTUTIS with legionary standards, and Spes - inscribed either as SPES PUBLICA and SPES - walking left. Only approximately 16 of the sestertii listed on Acsearch are of the SPES PUBLICA type - with not one example inscribed only "SPES." I have never seen an example inscribed just with Spes, but I have not searched all of the major databases.

I had some suspicions about the recently purchased first coin below but after studying it at length I am satisfied it is authentic. It came with information that indicated sales since 1975. Because roughness on the obverse it is almost impossible to photograph which is probably why I won the coin despite what I thought was a low opening bid which was all that was put on it. This seems to happen more often these days as auction houses put opening prices on coins that seem to be more consistent with purchase price than bidding, especially in view of additional fees that are charged that now are typically 20% - or more.




The SPES PUBLICA type seem to be very few dies - I will take a closer look and report back - and will also put in the weights and sizes. The Spes type also seem to more commonly have flans similar to this - although this may be due to the small number of examples. The Historia Augusta claimed that Diadumenian was an extremely beautiful child - but there is no way to tell from these examples and in any event the source isn't exactly credible.

Being emperor may have been dangerous but it sure wasn't any bargain for the children!

As for Macrinus, here he is - the coin was purchased in 2008 from Dianacoins and is among my favorites despite the roughness:

 

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I purchased my Diadumian from Matt Kreuzer, during the 1990's. Mine also is large, if I remember correctly. I only have a denarius and provincials of Macrinus.

I rather like the portrait on your Macrinus sestertius.

You are correct, they never seem to make it out. Labienus did, as a general, and before his usurpation during the later republic.

 

Diadumenian (218 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O:M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: PRINC IVVENTVTVS Prince standing facing, head r., holding standard and sceptre; two standards to right.
Rome Mint 218 A.D.
3.8g
21mm
RIC IV 102; RSC III 3b


Diadumenian (217 - 218 A.D.)
AR Tetradrachm
CYRRHESTICA, Cyrrhus
O: AVT K M ΟΠЄ ANTΩNINOC, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: Δ[HMAP]X ЄΞ VΠATOC, eagle standing facing on filleted thyrsus, head left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
13.16g
26mm
Prieur 923; Bellinger 127

Ex. Savoca Coins London, Monthly London Auction #4, Lot 643, 1/12/2020

 

Beautiful Diadumenian! - I remember Matt Kreuzer - wasn't he Classical Cash - and had THE best collection of...Trajan sestertius...someone else (I think) named Matt had a beautiful collection of Probus antoninianus. I purchased a coin or two from Matt and more from Henri Delger, who I think purchased his coins from Classical Cash.

I had meant to add that Diadumenian is relatively easy to find in the provinces. The increased availability of his sestertii is one of those things - like the Cleopatra's, or the small electrums that were more common a couple of years ago, that happen from time to time. But it usually never lasts.

 

DIADUMENIAN

I believe this is a harder to find coin:


RI
Diadumenian
217-218
AE26 Nikopolis-Nicopolis ad Istrum
Homonoia stdg
Mat's Comments: (1) The rev. legend has a break between O and V by kalathos of Homonoia. That occurs only at ΛONΓINO - V, not possible at AΓPIΠΠA.
(2) There are 3 types with this rev. and different obv. dies. They differ only by the position of OC of ΔIAΔOVMENIANOC. Your coin must be HrHJ (2018) 8.25.36.1
Ex: @Mat

 

By the way if anyone knows of a link to Matt Kreuzer's Trajan sestertii collection please let me know - I did not print it out as I do with many of these - I recall it being amazing.

 

Yes, he ran Classical Cash. I was a college student, so I didn't have much of a budget and mostly picked up auction remainders.