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Macrinus

Reece Period attributed: Period 10

Obverse image of a coin of Macrinus

Member of the The Severans dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 217 until 218.

Marcus Opellius Macrinus was born in AD 164 in Mauretania. His Moorish features stood out, but moreso his humble origins—he was the first Roman emperor who was not a senator.

Plautianus, commander of the Praetorian Guard under Severus, appointed Macrinus his steward. In 212 Macrinus became Praetorian Prefect himself, and served under Caracalla in the east. It is unclear whether he aspired to become emperor, but after the assassination of Caracalla, no clear successor emerged. After three days, Macrinus sought the affirmation of the troops.

Macrinus soon fell out with Julia Domna, Severus’ widow. The troops also grew distrustful after Macrinus made a huge monetary settlement with the Parthians, which they viewed as disgraceful to Roman valour. He also began removing some of the troops’ privileges.

The soldiers shifted their allegiance to fourteen-year-old Varius Avitus (eventually Elagabalus), whom they believed to be an illegitimate son of Caracalla. Macrinus saw his power slipping and fled to Rome, but was captured and executed in Cappadocia.

Latest examples recorded with images

We have recorded 21 examples.

PAS record number: ESS-08714A

Record: ESS-08714A
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A very worn copper alloy Roman dupondius o…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: SUR-4C9FA8

Record: SUR-4C9FA8
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A silver Roman denarius of Macrinus datin…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: SF-825946

Record: SF-825946
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: An incomplete Roman copper-alloy plated s…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: PUBLIC-781F2D

Record: PUBLIC-781F2D
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A silver Roman denarius of Macrinus (AD 2…
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Other resources about Macrinus

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Macrinus.

Information from Wikipedia

  • Preferred label: Macrinus
  • Full names:
    • Title:
    • Predecessor: Caracalla
    • Successor: Elagabalus
    • Definition: Marcus Opellius Macrinus (/məˈkraɪnəs/; c. 165 – June 218) was Roman emperor from April 217 to June 218, reigning jointly with his young son Diadumenianus. As a member of the equestrian class, he became the first emperor who did not hail from the senatorial class and also the first emperor who never visited Rome during his reign. Before becoming emperor, Macrinus served under Emperor Caracalla as a praetorian prefect and dealt with Rome's civil affairs. He later conspired against Caracalla and had him murdered in a bid to protect his own life, succeeding him as emperor. Macrinus was proclaimed emperor of Rome by 11 April 217 while in the eastern provinces of the empire and was subsequently confirmed as such by the Senate; however, for the duration of his reign, he never had the opportunity to return to Rome. His predecessor's policies had left Rome's coffers empty and the empire at war with several kingdoms, including Parthia, Armenia and Dacia. As emperor, Macrinus first attempted to enact reform to bring economic and diplomatic stability to Rome. While Macrinus' diplomatic actions brought about peace with each of the individual kingdoms, the additional monetary costs and subsequent fiscal reforms generated unrest in the Roman military. Caracalla's aunt Julia Maesa took advantage of the unrest and instigated a rebellion to have her fourteen-year-old grandson, Elagabalus, recognized as emperor. Macrinus was overthrown at the Battle of Antioch on 8 June 218 and Elagabalus proclaimed himself emperor with support from the rebelling Roman legions. Macrinus fled the battlefield and tried to reach Rome, but was captured in Chalcedon and later executed in Cappadocia. He sent his son to the care of Artabanus IV of Parthia, but Diadumenian was also captured before he could reach his destination and executed. After Macrinus' death, the Senate declared him and his son enemies of Rome and had their names struck from the records and their images destroyed; the phrase for such a drastic social/historical erasure came to be damnatio memoriae: damnation (of the) memory (of someone).
    • Parents:
      • Father:
      • Mother:
    • Birth place: Cherchell, Mauretania Caesariensis
    • Death place: Cappadocia (Roman province)
    • Spouse:
    • Other title(s):
      • List of late imperial Roman consuls
      • List of Roman emperors
    • Came After:
      • Marcus Oclatinius Adventus
      • Elagabalus
    • Came before:
      • Gaius Bruttius Praesens
      • Titus Messius Extricatus
    • Subjects on wikipedia:

    Types issued

    Adrian Murdoch's Emperor's of Rome

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