Diadumenian caesar, 217 – 218
Aureus late 217, AV 7.25 g. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES Bare-headed and draped bust r. Rev. PRINC IVVENTVTIS Diadumenian standing facing, head r., holding in r. hand standard and in l. sceptre; behind, two standards. C 2. BMC p. 509 note †. RIC Macrinus 101 var. (draped and cuirassed). Calicó 2982 (these dies).
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the
finest specimens known. A gentle portrait of fine style perfectly struck on a
full flan. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex Leu sale 93, 2005, Perfectionist, 77. Privately purchased from Spink’s in October 1969 and probably from the Karnak hoard of 1901.

During his grand campaign against the Parthian Empire that was intended to immortalise him as a Roman Alexander the Great, on 8 April AD 217, Caracalla paused for a moment at Carrhae in order to relieve himself. Unfortunately, while he was least able to defend himself he was struck down by the swords of unidentified assassins. Three days later, M. Opellius Macrinus, Caracalla’s praetorian prefect who may or may not have had a hand in his death, was proclaimed Augustus by the army. Macrinus knew that he would be regarded as a usurper and face opposition from the surviving members of the Severan family and therefore took immediate steps to present himself as the head of a stable dynasty with a supernatural mandate for his seizure of power. To this end, in May AD 217, Macrinus appointed his nine-year-old son, Diadumenian, to serve as Caesar (junior co-emperor and designated heir). Diadumenian received his name because he was born with a caul, but Macrinus presented it as an omen of legitimacy—the diadem had been the emblem of personal kingship worn by Alexander the Great and his successors in the Hellenistic period. It was a good start at propaganda, but not really enough to gloss over the humiliating peace treaty that Macrinus had to make with the Parthians in order to withdraw from Caracalla’s war. When the Syrian legions revolted against him in support of Caracalla’s cousin Elagabalus on 16 May 218, Macrinus (somewhat preposterously) elevated Diadumenian a second Augustus and marched on Antioch. He was soundly defeated and fled north into Asia Minor while he charged loyal servants with carrying Diadumenian to safety within the borders of the Parthian Empire. Unfortunately, Macrinus was hunted down and killed just as he was crossing the Bosporus into Europe and Diadumenian was arrested at Zeugma in Mesopotamia. The boy was duly executed as a usurper and his head retained as a trophy by the triumphant Elagabalus. This aureus was struck before Diadumenian was granted the dubious rank of Augustus. He is named as Caesar in the legend and his bare portrait underlines his status as less than that of his father. The reverse type advertises his status as designated heir through the use of a reverse type that became standard for this purpose in the third century. The reverse names him as princeps iuventutis (”Prince of the Youth”), a title traditionally given to the imperial heir since the time of Augustus. The role of the army in the elevation of Macrinus and Diadumenian is indicated by the three standards that surround the figure of Diadumenian on the reverse.

Graded Ch AU★ Strike 5/5 Surface 5/5 Fine Style, NGC certification number 6157261-005