Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
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Clodius Macer, April (?) – October (?) 68. Denarius, Carthage (?), April – October (?) 68, AR 3.63 g. L CLODI – MACRI / S – C Libertas standing l., holding in r. hand pileus and a patera in l. Rev. LIB – LEG – I – MAC – RIAN Aquila between two vexilla. C 2 var. (RIANA). RIC 21 var. (RIANA). CBN 5 var. (RIANA). Hewitt, NC 1983, pl. XI, 34.
An extremely rare variety of a very rare type. Struck an unusually fresh
metal and with a light old cabinet tone, about extremely fine
Ex Freeman & Sear Manhattan sale III, 2012, 172.
The revolt of Clodius Macer in North Africa gave further momentum to the downfall of Nero, who had survived the uprising of Vindex in Gaul and was dealing with Galba's more formidable challenge from Spain. It was clear from the outset that Galba had intended to replace Nero as emperor, yet that may not have been the professed goal of Clodius Macer.
One remarkable aspect of his coinage was the use of S.C. (senatus consulto) on denarii. That inscription otherwise had not been used on Roman silver coins since about 40 B.C., and its presence was meaningful. Furthermore, on his portrait coins Macer is shown bareheaded; the fact that he does not wear the laurel crown of an emperor is noteworthy. Both may have been intended to assure the senate that his revolt was principally – if not exclusively – aimed at ending the tyranny of Nero.
While the coins of his revolutionary contemporaries usually are restricted to the themes of victory, unity and recovery, most of Macer's issues are restorative, recalling the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. He must have thought it no less than an omen that Rome's new revolutionary war was being waged in the centenary year of Actium, a battle that had effectively ended Rome's previous civil war.
The legionary denarii that Marc Antony struck leading up to Actium were still a common sight in circulation a century later (indeed, hoards show that heavily worn examples circulated well into the 3rd Century). Macer adopted both of Antony's designs: the galley as a reverse type for his portrait denarii and the legionary eagle-and-standards in combination with four obverse types – the heads of Africa and a lion, the bust of Victory and the standing figure of Libertas.
Macer also followed the arrangement of the inscriptions on Antony's legionary coins. The war galley design was accompanied by Antony's personal inscriptions, and with Macer's restoration it bore a personal inscription that identified him as the legatus Augusti propraetore of Africa. Antony's eagle-and-standards reverse named various legions and specialised units; Macer followed suit by naming the two legions under his control, the Legion I Macriana and the Legion III Augusta. He had raised the former in the course of his rebellion and had originally commanded the latter in Numidia.
An extremely rare variety of a very rare type. Struck an unusually fresh
metal and with a light old cabinet tone, about extremely fine
Ex Freeman & Sear Manhattan sale III, 2012, 172.
The revolt of Clodius Macer in North Africa gave further momentum to the downfall of Nero, who had survived the uprising of Vindex in Gaul and was dealing with Galba's more formidable challenge from Spain. It was clear from the outset that Galba had intended to replace Nero as emperor, yet that may not have been the professed goal of Clodius Macer.
One remarkable aspect of his coinage was the use of S.C. (senatus consulto) on denarii. That inscription otherwise had not been used on Roman silver coins since about 40 B.C., and its presence was meaningful. Furthermore, on his portrait coins Macer is shown bareheaded; the fact that he does not wear the laurel crown of an emperor is noteworthy. Both may have been intended to assure the senate that his revolt was principally – if not exclusively – aimed at ending the tyranny of Nero.
While the coins of his revolutionary contemporaries usually are restricted to the themes of victory, unity and recovery, most of Macer's issues are restorative, recalling the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. He must have thought it no less than an omen that Rome's new revolutionary war was being waged in the centenary year of Actium, a battle that had effectively ended Rome's previous civil war.
The legionary denarii that Marc Antony struck leading up to Actium were still a common sight in circulation a century later (indeed, hoards show that heavily worn examples circulated well into the 3rd Century). Macer adopted both of Antony's designs: the galley as a reverse type for his portrait denarii and the legionary eagle-and-standards in combination with four obverse types – the heads of Africa and a lion, the bust of Victory and the standing figure of Libertas.
Macer also followed the arrangement of the inscriptions on Antony's legionary coins. The war galley design was accompanied by Antony's personal inscriptions, and with Macer's restoration it bore a personal inscription that identified him as the legatus Augusti propraetore of Africa. Antony's eagle-and-standards reverse named various legions and specialised units; Macer followed suit by naming the two legions under his control, the Legion I Macriana and the Legion III Augusta. He had raised the former in the course of his rebellion and had originally commanded the latter in Numidia.