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ID: |
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82001044 |
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[UNVERIFIED]
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| Type: |
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Roman Imperial |
| Issuer: |
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Macrinus |
| Date Ruled: |
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AD 217-218
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| Metal: |
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Silver |
| Denomination: |
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Denarius |
| Struck / Cast: |
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struck |
| Date Struck: |
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AD 218 |
| Weight: |
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2.79 g |
| Die Axis: |
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12 h |
| Obverse Legend: |
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IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG |
| Obverse Description: |
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Laureate and cuirassed bust right, wearing medium-length beard |
| Reverse Legend: |
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PONTIF MAX TR P II COS P P |
| Reverse Description: |
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Macrinus standing in slow quadriga left, holding eagle-tipped scepter and being crowned by Victory, who stands behind him |
| Mint: |
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Rome |
| Primary Reference: |
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RIC 036 |
| Reference2: |
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RSC 088 |
| Reference3: |
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Szaivert series 7 |
| Photograph Credit: |
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Classical Numismatic Group |
| Source: |
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http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=147500 |
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Grade:
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VF, toned, traces of deposits |
| Notes: |
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Sale: CNG 82, Lot: 1044 Rare. The dating and sequence of the coinage of Macrinus has been subject to much discussion, engendered by a curious reversal in his titles. As Curtis Clay noted in "The Roman Coinage of Macrinus and Diadumenian," NZ 93 (1979), pp. 21-40, Macrinus' coins showing one (first) consulship follow the coins showing a second consulship. Apparently his first consular acclamation was an honorary title frequently given to equestrian officials. When he became a true consul in January 218, he was titled consul for the second time on his coinage until he apparently insisted on constitutional correctness. The honest emperor also did not press the claim of having won a victory over the Parthian king Artabanos; he was in fact repeatedly defeated by the invading Persian army, and only staved off disaster by agreeing to a substantial payment of some 15,000,000 drachms to cement a truce. The "Victoria Parthica" and quadriga coin types, and imperial title Parthicus, were therefore short lived phenomena; as ephemeral as his unfortunate reign. |
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