Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Macrinus, 217 – 218. Sestertius 217, Æ 29.93 g.

Description: IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P S – C Fides standing facing, head r., holding standard in each hand and r. foot on helmet.

References: C 61 var.
BMC 121
RIC 141
Condition:Very rare and among the finest specimens known. A sestertius of exceptional quality with a superb portrait of enchanting beauty struck on a full flan. Wonderful untouched brown-olive green patina, good extremely fine
Provenance: Sternberg sale XVIII, 1986, 545
Leu sale 45, 1988, 357
Leu sale 52, 1991, Distinguished American, 225
NAC sale 72, 2013, 696

Note: 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.