Macrinus (from Frank)

I'm about two weeks late to the Frank Robinson show-and-tell, but international shipping is what it is and my wins just arrived a few days ago.

I mentioned in another thread that one of the coins I won was a Macrinus provincial and that I wasn't sure based on Frank's pics if it was going to live up to my expectations. I didn't pay so much for it that I was very worried, but as it is I'm mightily pleased...


MACRINUS
AE27. 12.75g, 26.6mm. Varbanov 3437 (same dies). MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis ad Istrum, AD 217-218. Statius Longinus, magistrate. O: AVT K M AVP CEV ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped and curiassed bust, seen from behind. R: YΠ CTA ΛONΓINOY NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC I, Apollo standing facing, head turned left, holding branch and bow.

While I had some doubts based on his pics, I think his description of the coin was spot on : "VF+/AVF, centered, some lgnd crowded/wk, dark greenish patina obv, rev with sl darker patch, good surfaces; excellent portrait with loads of juicy detail. Actually rare with these rev details."

Feel free to show your Macrinuses!

 

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That's a lovely coin! Here's a provincial of Macrinus from my collection:


Macrinus, Augustus AD 217-218
Roman provincial Æ 19 mm, 3.80 g, 12:00
Syria: Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem
Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ Ο C ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC CЄ, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Large SC, Δ/Є above and beneath; all within laurel wreath interrupted by star above
Refs: SGI 2949; BMC 20. 198,385; SNG Cop. 233; McAlee 728.

 

Both of these "Macrini" look great! OP coin is a real eye-popper. Can somebody give me a tutorial on the desirability of Macrinus coins? It's something I've noticed on this board. Is it the fact that his reign was short, making his coins scarce/rare?

 

Very nice bronze.

His son would like to say hi to his dad. Frank babysat him too before I adopted him. No body wanted him when all the action was happening so I felt sorry for him and adopted him.


Diadumenian (217 - 218 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind.
R: SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, flower in right, raising skirt with left.
21mm
3.14g
Cohen #21, RIC #117

Ex Frank Robinson Auction 103, Feb 6, 2018
Ex. Gordon Andreas Singer


Macrinus, (217 - 218 A.D)
AR Tetradrachm
Carrhae, Mesopotamia
O: AYT K M OΠ CE MAKPINOC CE, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind.
R: ∆MAPX EΞ YΠATOC, eaglestanding front, wings spread, head right, between legs crescent, star in left field, two pellets (second officina?) in ex; REV LEG?.
Carrhae mint 217 - 218 A.D
25mm
13.9g
Prieur 836

 

Nice @zumbly ! I am always amazed at Frank's accuracy in describing. And, it is always a joy when I open his letters (multi-stamps) with better than expected coins!

MACRINUS:

Provincial: RI Macrinus 217-218 AE25 CE Facing Quadriga


RI Didumenian and Macrinus 217-218 CE AE28 Markianopolis mint Serapis

 

Thanks! I have just three coins of Macrinus, so don’t consider myself qualified to give a tutorial, but in my opinion, he’s an emperor of no great historical importance and his coins are generally speaking not so interesting that the general collector will desire many of them. Macrinus specialists should feel free to pillory me now .

That said, I think he does cut a nice portrait on some of his coins. If his imperial coins seem pricier than the average coin of the Severan period, I think it’s a combination of relative scarcity (even though they’re far from rare) and the fact they’re often in fairly high grade. His provincial coins are quite common and be pretty affordable. My Nicopolis was around $65 including shipping. Confronted bust issues with his son Diadumenian like the one Alegandron showed above are a nice way to check off two boxes at once, especially since junior’s imperial coins are a few times more rare than dad’s and typically more expensive by the same factor.

Here’s my Mac denarius.

 

A Macrinus provincial, from an uncleaned hoard...

 

Struck in Antioch, these 2 coins have SC on reverse. The first weighs 4.8 g. while the second coin is oval and weighs 4.7 g.

 

Nice Macrinus.
Macrinus, 217-218. Diassarion. Macedonia. Amphipolis. AV M OΠЄΛ CЄV MAKPINOC Laurate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right. Rev. AMΦIΠO/ΛЄITΩN City godess enthroned left, wearing kalathos and holding patera in her right hand. SNG ANS 200. Varbanov 3285.

Macrinus, with Diadumenian as Caesar. AD 217-218. Æ Pentassarion. Marcianopolis mint. Pontianus, legatus consularis. Ob. AVT K OPEL CEV MAKPEINOC K M OPE ANTWN/NOCI, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right, seen from behind, vis-à-vis bare-headed and draped bust of Diadumenian left, seen from behind / VP PONTIANOV (OV ligate) MAPKIANOPOLEITWN, Asclepius standing facing, head left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff; E to left. AMNG I 748 var.; Mouchmov 534; Varbanov 896

 

A problem with these pile on threads is I can't remember which coin I showed last time. Macrinus has many variations on Provincial portraits and could make an interesting specialty group. This Nikopolis shows Dionysos with panther and an aegis on the portrait bust.

 

Z you have a nice couple of Macrinus there. I am still short of adding one myself.
I also just recieved my multi stamped envelope from Frank the other day and I am state side. I guess that's the USPS for you.

 

A great coin Z

 

Nice Macrinus, zumbly.
I have never bought any coins with Frank Robinson Auctions, but I have heard a lot about him.

Here are my two coins of Macrinus:

Dupondius of Macrinus:


Denarius of Macrinus:


And one of his son Diadumenianus:

 

I'd say the description of that coin was spot on Z, killer obverse!

Here's my one and only...





Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Emesa. Macrinus, 217-218 AD. AR Tetradrachm

O: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: eagle standing facing, head left, holding wreath in beak; between legs, radiate and draped bust of Shamash left. Prieur 1015. 27 mm, 12.9 g

 

Thanks for the comment, folks. @Eduard , those denarii are outstanding!

 

Fantastic buy zumbly, I love the realistic portrait. Congrats.

 

Great coin, Z! Awesome portrait, of course, but I also like the patina... has character.

My denarius:

 

Nice Big Mac, Z!!

Here's my tiny Mac...

Macrinus, Ruled 217-218 AD
AE15, Mesopatamia, Nisibis
Obverse: KAIC MAKPEIN, bust laureate head right.
Reverse: Turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right.
References: Lindgren & Kovacs 2598A
Size: 15x12mm, 3.44g

 

Nice OP provincial Z. Interesting coins all around


Macrinus, Bronze struck in Nicopolis
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



Macrinus, Tetradrachm struck in Antioch, Ca AD 217-218
AYG K M OP SE MAKRINOS SEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right
DHMARX EXYPATO, Eagle facing, holding wreath in beak, standing on thigh. D E in upper field
12.76 gr
Ref : Sear #2948, Prieur # 246_055



Diadumenian, Tetradrachm Hierapolis mint
AVT K M OTTEA ANTONEINOC, Radiate and draped bust of diadumenian right
DHMAP X EX VTTAT (OC), Eagle facing, head right, holding wreath in beak, lion between legs
11,44 gr
Ref : Prieur #947_050, Sear #315

Q

 

Not exactly a Macrinus, but Macrinus-ey.


Macrinus. 217–8 CE. Æ “sestertius.” 35mm, 27.62g, 6h. “Paduan medal” after Giovanni Cavino, 1500–70. Klawans 2, Lawrence — (obverse); Lawrence 48 (reverse). Obv: IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG PM T P P P; laureate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery. Rx: S | C; FID • EXERCIT in exergue; emperor addressing three soldiers. Later cast. VF.

From the Collection of Princeton Economics (acquired by Martin R. Armstrong).