Here is a coin I'm interested in but it's in such bad shape that I want to be sure it's what ruler I think it is. If I'm right, I'm getting it. Let me know what Emperor you think this coin is.
Now that I have the coin since it arrived yesterday. I am happy. Macrianus II, Usurper, 260-261 AD. AR Antoninianus, Antioch, 21mm, 3.1g OBV: IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right. REV: SPES PVBLICA, Spes standing left holding flower and raising hem of robe. Star in left field. REF: RIC V-2 13, RSC 13, MIR 1743b, Sear88 3093.
I have no question that it is Macrianus (not II) and I do not see any better cheaper among the several now on line. All I have is this Byzantium and Nicaea Provincial shown here before. Quietus anyone?
I was kind of confused why some references call him Macrianus, others call him Macrianus II. Wildwinds also calls him Macrianus II. Which is the correct one and I'll change it.
I believe, off the top of my head, that Macrianus I (major) had a son Macrianus II (minor) named after him and another named Quietus.... I have a Macrianus I (major), but still casually working on getting the others. If you google 'Macrianus' the distinction becomes crystal clear.....
If Macrianus the father never claimed to be Augustus, is it correct to assign him the numeral? No Roman ruler ever used a number to the best of my knowledge so it is all a question of historical convention. Question: what ruler did start the practice of numbers? We have IVN for Constantine and Henricus 8 of England but what went between them?
Well, I'm changing it to Macrianus I, or just Macrianus. I don't know what your provincial coin is, Doug. If you say it might be Quietus, I believe you.
I would have to say that is a reasonable statement...the major and minor aspects merely a way to distinguish between Macrianus or any of the others with the same names (Julia's, Agrippina etc ) and the use of numbers evolved somewhere along the way. And, I'm still mystified as to Henricus 8-----I never realized it was anything else but a Roman numeral VIII