Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction LIV 7-8 Nov 2020
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Macrinus (217-218). AR Antoninianus, 217 AD. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG.Radiate and cuirassed bust right. / SALVS PVBLICA. Salus seated left, feeding out of patera serpent and holding sceptre. RIC 88. AR. 4.83 g. 23.50 mm. R. A beautifull portrait of short bearded Macrinus. About EF.
The radiate silver coin now widely known as the Antoninianus was introduced circa AD 215 by Caracalla (whose official name was Antoninus). Weighing 1.5 times the denarius of the time, it was tariffed at two denarii and hence was an expedient to stretch the silver supply. Its issue continued into the reigns of his immediate successor Macrinus, who struck it in relatively small numbers, and Elagabalus, who issued it more widely, but was discontinued by Severus Alexander as part of his monetary reforms to restore a sound currency. Although inherently inflationary, there is little evidence that the new denomination added much to the inflationary spiral until it was reintroduced in circa AD 238 in numbers large enough to drive the venerable silver denarius out of circulation. (CNG inv. 511013, note).
The radiate silver coin now widely known as the Antoninianus was introduced circa AD 215 by Caracalla (whose official name was Antoninus). Weighing 1.5 times the denarius of the time, it was tariffed at two denarii and hence was an expedient to stretch the silver supply. Its issue continued into the reigns of his immediate successor Macrinus, who struck it in relatively small numbers, and Elagabalus, who issued it more widely, but was discontinued by Severus Alexander as part of his monetary reforms to restore a sound currency. Although inherently inflationary, there is little evidence that the new denomination added much to the inflationary spiral until it was reintroduced in circa AD 238 in numbers large enough to drive the venerable silver denarius out of circulation. (CNG inv. 511013, note).