★ RARE ★

CAPPADOCIA. Caesarea. Diadumenian.(Caesar, 217-218). Ae.

Obv : Μ ΟΠ ΔΙΑΔΟΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC.
Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev : ΜΗΤΡΟΠ ΚΑΙCΑΡΙ / ЄT B.
Four grain ears set on table; mount Argaeus below.
SNG Fitzwilliam 5478.

Condition : Good very fine.

Material : Bronze.
Axis : 12h

Weight : 7.66 gr
Diameter : 23 mm

Diadumenian was a Roman imperial figure who briefly held the title of Caesar and later Augustus during the turbulent period of the Roman Empire known as the Crisis of the Third Century. Born around 208 AD, his full name was Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus, and he was the son of the Roman emperor Macrinus, who ruled from 217 to 218 AD. Diadumenian's life and reign were short-lived, as his father's rule was cut short after a rebellion led by the future emperor Elagabalus.

Diadumenian’s father, Macrinus, was a former praetorian prefect who rose to power following the assassination of the notorious emperor Caracalla. After Macrinus became emperor, he named Diadumenian Caesar in 217 AD, when the young boy was just nine years old, marking him as his heir. Diadumenian also received the name "Antoninus," an attempt by Macrinus to associate his son with the popular Antonine dynasty, specifically Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla, to gain legitimacy and popular favor.

Although still very young, Diadumenian was briefly given responsibilities in the administration of the empire alongside his father. However, Macrinus' reign faced numerous challenges, particularly with the military. Macrinus had made several unpopular decisions, such as cutting military pay and withdrawing from certain military campaigns, which weakened his support among the Roman legions.

In 218 AD, a rebellion broke out, led by Julia Maesa, the grandmother of Elagabalus, who sought to place her grandson on the throne. Macrinus, facing growing opposition and lacking the support of the military, sent Diadumenian to the eastern provinces to seek refuge and possibly to gather support. To bolster Diadumenian’s standing and strengthen the loyalty of his supporters, Macrinus elevated him to the rank of Augustus, giving him the title of co-emperor in a last-ditch effort to secure the dynasty’s survival.

However, the rebellion quickly gained momentum, and Macrinus was defeated in battle by the forces of Elagabalus. After Macrinus’ defeat and execution, Diadumenian’s fate was sealed. While fleeing toward the Parthian Empire, where he sought refuge, Diadumenian was captured and executed in 218 AD, just a few months after being declared Augustus. He was only around 10 years old at the time of his death.

Despite his brief reign, Diadumenian’s legacy lives on through the coinage issued during his time as Caesar and later as Augustus. Coins bearing his image were struck in various mints across the empire, featuring his youthful portrait on the obverse and typical Roman imperial symbols on the reverse. These coins were part of Macrinus' efforts to legitimize his son's position and to establish a dynasty. The portrait of Diadumenian on these coins often depicts him with a serene, childlike appearance, and they are valuable to historians and numismatists as they provide insight into this short-lived period of Roman history.

Diadumenian's brief life and reign are representative of the chaotic and unstable nature of the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century, a time marked by rapid changes in leadership, civil wars, and economic difficulties. His story is a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of young heirs in a world where political power was often secured and lost through military might and intrigue. Diadumenian, though a minor figure in Roman history, serves as a symbol of the fragility of imperial rule during this tumultuous period.