Macrinus Bronze Dupondius RIC IV Macrinus 199

Monetary Context and Denominational Structure

The monetary landscape of AD 217 to 218 operated within the framework developed during the Antonine and Severan eras, dominated in precious metals by the silver denarius and Caracalla's newly introduced double denarius, or antoninianus. In aes or orichalcum coinage, the sestertius remained the primary vehicle for large-format imperial messaging, while the dupondius and as fulfilled everyday market transactions across Italy and western provinces. Under Macrinus, bronze production continued the established weight and metallurgical standards of Caracalla, though the volume of base-metal output contracted sharply relative to prior reigns. The dupondius, traditionally valued at one-half of a sestertius or two asses, maintained its characteristic visual identifier: the radiate crown. This diagnostic convention had distinguished dupondii from laureate asses of similar size and weight since the reign of Nero. RIC IV Macrinus 199 belongs to the early portion of this compressed monetary phase, reflecting the imperial administration's immediate concern with sustaining everyday cash supplies while maintaining fiscal discipline. The thematic program of Macrinus's coinage emphasized traditional virtues, legitimacy, and stability, attempting to reassure both the Senate and the populace that civilian and religious norms remained intact despite the violent transition of power in the eastern theatre of the empire.

Mint Organization and Production Techniques

Numismatic consensus attributes RIC IV Macrinus 199 exclusively to the central imperial mint at Rome. Although Macrinus and his imperial court were stationed in Syria, the administration of the metropolitan mint remained under the jurisdiction of the senatorial and equestrian officials in Rome, who operated under imperial instructions conveyed by dispatch. Production adhered to standard Roman minting methodology of the early third century AD. Flan preparation involved casting blank disks in open or bivalve mould assemblies, followed by hand-hammering between hand-engraved dies. Die-cutting style at Rome under Macrinus is marked by precise epigraphy and carefully articulated portraiture. The mint organized its operations into several distinct workshops, or officinae, which divided typological production between the Augustan and Caesar issues, the latter struck for Macrinus's young son Diadumenian. Dupondii such as RIC IV Macrinus 199 were struck in brass or related copper-alloy mixtures, which provided the warm, golden hue historically associated with orichalcum, though third-century metallurgical practices frequently incorporated recycled scrap metal, leading to minor variations in trace element composition across the alloy.

Obverse Typology and Imperial Iconography

The obverse of RIC IV Macrinus 199 presents a right-facing bust of Macrinus, depicted radiate and cuirassed. The radiate crown serves the dual purpose of signifying the solar attributes associated with imperial majesty and providing the clear denominational signifier separating the dupondius from the laureate as. Die engravers rendered Macrinus with distinctive physiognomic traits, including a short, cropped beard, prominent cheekbones, and mature facial features that depart from the dramatic, aggressive turn of the head characteristic of Caracalla's portraiture. The cuirass is meticulously detailed with shoulder straps and breastplate ornamentation, emphasizing the military office of the emperor while presenting an image of disciplined governance. Variation across surviving dies shows slight shifts in bust truncation and drapery folds, yet the core composition of the radiate, cuirassed bust remains strictly consistent within this catalogue entry. Obverse dies for this dupondius were cut with high artistic competence, demonstrating that the artisans at Rome continued high-quality die preparation even in the absence of direct imperial oversight from the capital.

Reverse Iconography and Religious Symbolism

The reverse of RIC IV Macrinus 199 is devoted to the goddess Salus, depicted draped and seated facing left on a throne. With her right hand, she extends a patera or food morsel toward a serpent that rises from an altar situated at her feet, while her left arm rests comfortably against the side of her seat. This tableau represents one of the most venerable religious motifs in Roman imperial numismatics, symbolizing both the physical health of the ruler and the overarching safety and flourishing of the Roman citizenry, designated explicitly as Salus Publica. The serpent, an attribute inherited from the Greek cult of Asclepius and integrated into Roman religious practice on Tiber Island, embodies regenerative power, healing, and divine protection. In the lower fields or flanking the central figure, the letters S and C appear, denoting Senatus Consulto, the official decree of the Senate sanctioning base-metal coin production in the capital. The iconographical choice of Salus was acutely pertinent during the political instability of AD 217, reassuring the public that the state remained under divine guardianship and that domestic tranquility would be preserved under the new administration.

Epigraphy and Legend Analysis

The obverse inscription of RIC IV Macrinus 199 reads IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, rendered in uppercase Roman epigraphy arranged circularly along the rim. This formula translates as Imperator Caesar Marcus Opellius Severus Macrinus Augustus. The inclusion of the cognomen Severus represents a critical political claim: Macrinus adopted this dynastic name upon his elevation in order to manufacture continuity with the revered Septimius Severus and mitigate backlash following Caracalla's death. The reverse inscription reads SALVS PVBLICA, followed in the field or exergue by S C. The legend translates directly to Public Health or The Public Safety, framed by the authority of the senatorial decree. Epigraphic execution is standard for Rome during this period, exhibiting clean lettering, standardized serifs, and disciplined circular spacing. Breaks in the legends are carefully balanced against the crown spikes on the obverse and the head of the deity on the reverse, reflecting deliberate composition by the master die-cutters.

Typology and Chronological Sequence

In the framework established by Mattingly and Sydenham in Roman Imperial Coinage, RIC IV Macrinus 199 represents the radiate dupondius counterpart to the sestertius RIC IV Macrinus 197 and the laureate as RIC IV Macrinus 198. Chronologically, this issue spans the period from late spring AD 217 into early AD 218. The Salus Publica type without explicit tribunician numbering represents a general programmatic issue struck across precious-metal and base-metal denominations early in Macrinus's tenure. Some numismatists have posited that the type continued to be struck into the opening months of AD 218 before the mint shifted its focus toward issues marking Macrinus's second consulship and subsequent military titles. Because this dupondius lacks specific consular or tribunician numerals on the reverse, its chronological boundaries are defined by the overarching framework of Macrinus's reign, which ended with his defeat and execution following the uprising of Elagabalus in June AD 218. The type constitutes an integral part of the second major thematic wave of aes issues produced at the Rome mint under Macrinus.

Circulation Patterns and Monetary Role

Base-metal dupondii of Macrinus circulated primarily within the western provinces of the empire, including Italy, the Danubian frontier, Gaul, and Roman Britain, where the aes economy was deeply entrenched. In contrast, the eastern Mediterranean relied extensively on local civic bronzes struck by Greek cities under imperial oversight, rendering imperial dupondii comparatively uncommon in eastern excavations. Archaeological hoard evidence and stray finds indicate that Severan dupondii experienced sustained circulation through the mid-third century AD, often continuing to trade by weight alongside earlier Antonine base-metal pieces until the monetary collapse and rampant debasement of the AD 260s. Due to Macrinus's brief fourteen-month reign, the absolute volume of RIC IV Macrinus 199 introduced into circulation was limited. Specimens that survive often display moderate to heavy wear patterns consistent with prolonged handling in everyday market transactions. Over time, many such coins were lost, discarded during demonetization phases, or melted down as raw alloy for subsequent third-century coinage.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume V: Pertinax to Elagabalus. pp. 520-522
2. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC IV Macrinus 199. ric.4.mcs.199
3. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IV, Part II: Macrinus to Pupienus. p. 21