Two Tetradrachms of Macrinus from CNG 529

[Al Kowsky]

I won the two tetradrachms pictured below from CNG E-Auction 529; the first coin I'm happy with ☺️, & the second one I'm not 😠. The second coin will be shipped back to CNG later this week after I contact them. 

CYRRHESTICA, Hierapolis. Macrinus, AD 217-218. Billon Tetradrachm: 12.02 gm, 26 mm, 12 h. Obverse: Laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust facing right. Reverse: Front facing eagle with head right, holding wreath in beak; between legs a roaring lion striding right (the mintmark). The reverse is struck off-center & has a large die break that consumes most of the wreath. The coin is in excellent condition despite the striking weakness on the obverse. Prieur 943. Photo courtesy of CNG.

The tetradrachms of Caracalla are fairly plentiful, with Prieur listing 17 different types, however, Prieur lists only two types struck for Macrinus, so I was happy to win this example with a well detailed mintmark.

The next coin was listed as "Very rare, three listed by Prieur, three in CoinArchives.", & struck at the Emesa mint, Prieur 976. 

https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-854N1A/seleucis-and-pieria-emesa-macrinus-ad-217-218-bi-tetradrachm-275mm-1193-g-6h-vf

After examining this coin in-hand it became obvious that the coin was misattributed 😮. The coin is in fact Prieur 993, a very common type with 29 examples cited by Prieur. 🙄

Who ever cataloged this coin missed the "H" below the eagle's head, which is difficult to spot because of striking weakness & surface porosity 🧐. Photo courtesy of CoinArchives. 

Website members are welcome to post their coins of this short-lived emperor ☺️.

 

 

Edited January 1, 2023 by Al Kowsky

[Kali]

Macrinus (217 -218 A.D.)

AR Tetradrachm
MESOPOTAMIA, Carrhae
O: AVT K M ΟΠ CЄ MAKPINOC CЄ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠATOC, eagle standing facing on bull's head flanked by pellets, head right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
12.71g
27mm
Prieur 827; Bellinger 165

 

Macrinus (217 - 218 A.D)

Carrhae, Mesopotamia
Billon Tetradrachm
O: AYT K M OΠ CE MAKPINOC CE, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind.
R: ∆MAPX EΞ YΠATOC, eaglestanding front, wings spread, head right, between legs crescent, star in left field, two pellets (second officina?) in ex; REV LEG?.
Carrhae mint 217 - 218 A.D
25mm
13.9g
Prieur 836

 

 

[shanxi]

Nice coins.

Here is one from Laodicea ad Mare

Macrinus, year 217-218
Syria, Laodicea ad Mare
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: AYT K M OΠ CEOY MAKPEINOC CE, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠA TO C ΠΠ, eagle standing with wings spread, head left, wreath in beak, star below
Billlon, 11.99g, 25mm
Ref.: Prieur 1183

[Shea19]

Very nice new additions, Al!   Here are my examples from the same mints, which are very similar in style…I think that my portrait from Hierapolis was probably engraved by the same person who did yours.

Macrinus, Syria, Cyrrhestica. Hierapolis, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.13 g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, lion walking right. Prieur 943.

Macrinus, Syria, Emesa mint, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 14.47 g). AYT K M OΠ CЄ•••MAKPINOC CЄ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. ΔΗΜΑΡX ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Π Π Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Shamash to left. Prieur 974.

[Al Kowsky]

37 minutes ago, Kali said:

Macrinus (217 -218 A.D.)

AR Tetradrachm
MESOPOTAMIA, Carrhae
O: AVT K M ΟΠ CЄ MAKPINOC CЄ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠATOC, eagle standing facing on bull's head flanked by pellets, head right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
12.71g
27mm
Prieur 827; Bellinger 165

 

Macrinus (217 - 218 A.D)

Carrhae, Mesopotamia
Billon Tetradrachm
O: AYT K M OΠ CE MAKPINOC CE, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind.
R: ∆MAPX EΞ YΠATOC, eaglestanding front, wings spread, head right, between legs crescent, star in left field, two pellets (second officina?) in ex; REV LEG?.
Carrhae mint 217 - 218 A.D
25mm
13.9g
Prieur 836

 

 

I like the bull head mintmark on the Carrhae coinage 😉.

[Al Kowsky]

6 minutes ago, Shea19 said:

Very nice new additions, Al!   Here are my examples from the same mints, which are very similar in style…I think that my portrait from Hierapolis was probably engraved by the same person who did yours.

Macrinus, Syria, Cyrrhestica. Hierapolis, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.13 g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, lion walking right. Prieur 943.

Macrinus, Syria, Emesa mint, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 14.47 g). AYT K M OΠ CЄ•••MAKPINOC CЄ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right./ Rev. ΔΗΜΑΡX ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Π Π Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Shamash to left. Prieur 974.

The portrait on your Emesa Tet has an attractive portrait 😉.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice tets on this thread. I'm curious as to what one would pay for an example at auction or fixed price? More than a denarius of his?

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

Nice tets on this thread. I'm curious as to what one would pay for an example at auction or fixed price? More than a denarius of his?

A.C.H., Rome mint denarii are more popular than provincial coins, & if you compared a slabbed denarius with a slabbed tetradrachm with both having the identical grade, the denarius would usually sell for more. The Hierapolis Tet I just won cost me $228.00 including the buyers premium. Pictured below is a denarius sold by Heritage on May 2021 for $1,560.00 including the buyers premium. Pictured below the denarius is a Tet in my collection with a similar grade as the denarius, it would probably sell for $500.00 less 🙁.

Pictured below is a provincial bronze of Macrinus that cost me $330.00 including buyers premium from a CNG auction.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Thanks @Al Kowsky - very helpful. So somewhat more than tets of Caracalla or Elagabalus but not overwhelmingly so....

 

 

[DonnaML]

Your first new tet is really great-looking, @Al Kowsky . I can understand why you're returning the second one, though. Unfortunately, misattributions aren't that uncommon for even the most reputable of dealers. But it's always frustrating when you realize it only after you've made the purchase.

I have only three coins of Macrinus, all posted here before.

One denarius with Securitas on the reverse:

One Pentassarion from Marcianopolis depicting Macrinus with Diadumenian, and Hermes on the reverse:

And, most recently, one AE 26 from Nicopolis ad Istrum with the emperor in a quadriga on the reverse:

Edited January 2, 2023 by DonnaML

[Al Kowsky]

6 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Your first new tet is really great-looking, @Al Kowsky . I can understand why you're returning the second one, though. Unfortunately, misattributions aren't that uncommon for even the most reputable of dealers. But it's always frustrating when you realize it only after you've made the purchase.

I have only three coins of Macrinus, all posted here before.

One denarius with Securitas on the reverse:

One Pentassarion from Marcianopolis depicting Macrinus with Diadumenian, and Hermes on the reverse:

And, most recently, one AE 26 from Nicopolis ad Istrum with the emperor in a quadriga on the reverse:

The heroic depiction of Macrinus & the quadriga scene on the reverse of this Nicopolis bronze surpass anything I've seen from the Rome mint 🤩!

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Yeah that quadriga coin is a real stunner. Provincial reverses can be spectacular as well as locally relevant to the issuing metropolis. One gets a deeper sense of religion and mythology beyond the usual personifications on the Imperial coinage.

Edited January 2, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[DonnaML]

4 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

The heroic depiction of Macrinus & the quadriga scene on the reverse of this Nicopolis bronze surpass anything I've seen from the Rome mint 🤩!

I liked the coin so much that when I reviewed the relevant HJB catalog the day it went online, I knew immediately that it was the one coin I was sure I wanted to order. And did so right away.

The last time I posted the coin, someone said that the portrait looks more like Caracalla than Macrinus, suggesting that it was issued early in the latter's reign.

I must say that that might be the most prominent serpent on an aegis I've ever seen!

For anyone interested who doesn't want to take the time to look up my description of the coin, this was it:

Macrinus Æ26, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior, AD 217-218. Under Marcus Claudius Agrippa, consular legate. Obv. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from front,  with aegis on left shoulder (snake protruding, representing Medusa’s hair) and head of Medusa on breastplate of cuirass, AV K OΠΠEΛ CEV - H MAKΡINOC / Rev. the emperor driving triumphal quadriga (decorated with image of Victory) to right, holding reins and transverse sceptre in left hand, raising right hand in salute; Virtus or soldier preceding, stepping right before the horses with head reverted to left and holding vexillum over shoulder; above, trophy of arms between two seated captives; VΠ AΓΡIΠΠA NIKOΠOΛ around from 8:00; in exergue in two lines, ITΩN ΠΡ OC | ICTΡΩ. 10.38g, 26mm, 6h. Pick, AMNG I/I 1712 (at p. 440) & Pl. XIX nr. 16 [rev. die match] [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I (Berlin, 1898) (6 specimens)]; Corpus Nummorum Online 26655 [see https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/CN_26655]; Varbanov I 3405 (var. obv. legend) [Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)];   Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov 8.23.34.2 [Hristova, H., H.-J. Hoeft, & G. Jekov, The Coins of Moesia Inferior 1st - 3rd c. AD: Nicopolis ad Istrum (Blagoevgrad, 2015)]. “Near Extremely Fine; beautiful olive green patina. Very Rare.” [39 examples on ACSearch, inclusive of duplicates.] Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 220th Buy or Bid Sale, June 2022, Lot 334; ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 Oct. 2020, Lot 384 (acquired from Leu Numismatik AG); ex Helios Numismatik, Auction 8, 13 October 2012, lot 337 (ex European collection, formed before 2005). [Video of coin at https://www.hjbltd.com/#!/inventory/item-detail/ancient-coins/100313?fromBbs=220th Buy Or Bid Sale.]