Macrinus, 217 – 218
Aureus December 217, AV 20 mm, 7.19 g. IMP C M OPEL SEV – MACRINVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P II COS P P Annona standing l., holding corn ears and cornucopiae; at her feet, modius containing corn ears. C 46. BMC –. RIC 25. Calicó 2948. Extremely rare and in exceptional state of preservation. A magnificent portrait of excellent style perfectly struck in high relief. Virtually as struck and Fdc

Ex Hirsch XXIV, 1929, Lambros, 1203; Stack's 20 November 1967, McCullough, 916 (illustrated on the front cover) and LHS 100, 2007, 532 sales. Probably from the Karnak Hoard of 1901.

Graded Ch MS* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, Fine Style, NCG certification number 6827744-012

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.