As I said when I first purchased the group of Roman Republican coins, this Denarius of Macrinus was twice the price of the Republican coins. But, it is a decent coin of a short lived emperor. Macrinus AR Denarius OBV: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate & cuirassed bust with short beard right REV: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Securitas standing left, holding scepter & leaning on column Struck at Rome, 217 AD (Seller did not provide weight or measurement) RIC 24 Backgrond:
Well somebody had to do away with the loathsome Caracalla. I think anyone succeeding Caracalla would have been destined to lose the support of the soldiery, and therefore destined to failure. Caracalla had inflated the military salaries to unsustainable levels during his reign, and Macrinus' housecleaning must have caused no small amount of consternation. The Romans must have been weary of twenty years of despotism, but they were hardly out of the woods on that account: Elagabulus was up next! That's a very fine Denarius indeed, Bing. It's well-centered and well-struck, with copious detail - a wonderful find! I've seen a few Denarii of Macrinus that were in my budget - they seem more plentiful than the Antoninianus. Just try to find a bronze of this emperor, though - forget about it.
That coin is worth twice the price of any of the Republicans you have shown from this group. It has a little wear on the high points but is otherwise a real looker of the long beard variety. Mine is not as nice as yours but is a short beard portrait.
So Bing, that is #4 of the five new coins, correct? (or did I miss one of 'em?) => that's a fantastic lookin' coin!! (the toning really makes it "pop") :yes:
I think you missed two, but I also bought two more after for a total of 7 coins. I have one left to show. 1. MN. AEMILIO LEPIDUS 2. MN. FONTEIUS 3. L CORNELIUS SULLA 4. MN. AUILLIUS 5. P CLODIUS MF TURRINUS 6. Macrinus Plus one
Like a fat-kid in a candy store, eh?!! ... I currently have "6" coins in the cross-hairs (exciting stuff!!) ... it's been a couple/few weeks since I pulled the ol' trigger (I'm all giddy!!) :b8nce:
I think both your varieties (long beard and short beard) are nice. I liked Ancient Doug's article he wrote a long time ago discussing the possible reason for these varieties: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/feac62mac.html Until convinced otherwise, I subscribe to the statement in bold typeface. Too often during the Third Century, the images on coins of usurpers were rushed. For usurpers from outside the city of Rome, there was little concern for accuracy since there was no known image. guy
I have 2 1/2 coins enroute and just found out today that there will be a charter bus to the Baltimore coin show March 16. Like Steve, I'm all giddy!! So far this year I had only bought 3 1/2 coins so this is a big week.
Please don't quote links to my pages on ancients.info. They are supposed to be taking those pages down and I stopped updating them long ago. If you visit my pages use the new address where I moved a few years ago: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/feac62mac.html
