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ID: |
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38-117 |
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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 |
| Diameter: |
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22 mm |
| Weight: |
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7.53 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 left, holding long caduceus in right hand and cornucopiae in left |
| Mint: |
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Rome |
| Primary Reference: |
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RIC 041 (This coin) |
| Reference2: |
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BMC 056 |
| Reference3: |
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Calicó 2965 (this coin) |
| Reference4: |
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C 92 var. |
| 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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56000 Swiss Franc |
| Date Sold: |
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03/21/2007 |
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Grade:
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Virtually as struck and almost Fdc |
| Notes: |
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NAC Auction 38, Lot 117
Very rare. A spectacular portrait
Ex Henry Chapman 25-29 June 1912, Earle, 657 and Naville-Ars Classica VIII, 1924, Bement, 1239 sales. From the Karnak hoard.
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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