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ID: |
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49-333 |
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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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A.D. 217-218
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| Metal: |
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Gold |
| Denomination: |
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Aureus |
| Struck / Cast: |
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struck |
| Date Struck: |
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AD January-June 218 |
| Weight: |
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7.40 g |
| Obverse Legend: |
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IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG |
| Obverse Description: |
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Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right |
| Reverse Legend: |
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PONTIF MAX TR P II COS II P P |
| Reverse Description: |
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Felicitas standing to front, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae |
| Mint: |
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Rome |
| Primary Reference: |
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RIC 040 (This coin) |
| Reference2: |
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BMC 056 note |
| Reference3: |
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Calicó 2963 (this coin) |
| Reference4: |
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C 92; Biaggi 1273 (this coin) |
| Photograph Credit: |
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Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG |
| Source: |
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http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ |
| Price Sold For: |
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65000 Swiss Franc |
| Date Sold: |
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10/21/2008 |
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Grade:
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Virtually as struck and almost Fdc |
| Notes: |
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NAC Auction 49, Lot 333
Very rare. An attractive portrait
Ex Hirsch sale 29, 1910, Herzfelder, 1204. A trusted administrator under the Severans, Macrinus rose to become one of two praetorian prefects under the emperor Caracalla. He took a leading role in the plot to murder his benefactor, having himself enlisted the assassin. Three days after Caracalla’s assassination, Macrinus was nominated Augustus by the soldiers after pretending to show sorrow for his master’s death. For a time he continued the war against the Parthians, but soon tired of it and sued for peace, offering the enemy large payments in exchange for a non-aggression pact. This did not bode well with the soldiers, who perhaps wanted to pursue the campaign and have an opportunity to claim their share of the legendary wealth of the East. Thus, many soldiers soon deserted to the cause of a new rival, the 14-year-old grandnephew of Julia Domna, Elagabalus, who was alleged to be an illegitimate son of Caracalla. When the opponents finally clashed near a small Syrian village outside Antioch, the forces of Elagabalus got the upper hand and Macrinus fled the field. He made his way in disguise as far as Calchedon before he was captured and executed |
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