Macrinus Bronze Sestertius, RIC IV Macrinus 177

Monetary Context and Denominational Role

The monetary system inherited by Macrinus in 217 AD was burdened by severe inflation and financial strain resulting from Caracalla's costly military campaigns and large soldier stipends. Although Macrinus attempted fiscal retrenchment by restoring earlier standards of silver fineness for the denarius, the sestertius remained the premier large base-metal denomination for domestic transactions, civil commerce, and regional accounting throughout Italy and the western provinces. Struck in orichalcum or bronze, the sestertius held a nominal value of four asses or one quarter of a silver denarius. Unlike the precious metal denarii and antoniniani, which were frequently channeled toward military payments in frontier zones, bronze coinage such as RIC IV Macrinus 177 circulated widely among civil populations. Because of its broad flan, the sestertius functioned as the primary visual showcase for imperial messaging, granting the regime ample canvas to advertise ideological themes, political stability, and senatorial cooperation.

Production and Mint Organization

Numismatic scholarship firmly attributes RIC IV Macrinus 177 to the imperial mint at Rome. Even though Macrinus never visited Rome during his fourteen-month reign, remaining stationed in Syria and Asia Minor, the capital's mint continued regular output under the supervision of the Senate and imperial officials. The mint at Rome operated with organized officinae, using standardized hand-engraved dies and pre-weighed, cast flans. Sestertii of this period exhibit significant variation in physical weight, typically fluctuating between 20 and 26 grams, with flan diameters ranging approximately from 29 to 33 millimeters. Blanks were cast in multiple mold trays, occasionally leaving visible casting sprues on the edges before being struck hot between upper and lower dies. The production of base-metal coinage at Rome under Macrinus maintained the high engraving artistry characteristic of the late Antonine and Severan eras, despite the logistical disconnect between the distant princeps and the metropolitan die cutters.

Obverse Portraiture and Iconography

The obverse of RIC IV Macrinus 177 presents a right-facing bust of Macrinus, wearing a laurel wreath and dressed in military cuirass. Early in the reign, Roman die cutters lacked an accurate imperial model, initially rendering portraits that resembled Caracalla before settling into Macrinus's distinct iconography featuring a trimmed beard, prominent forehead, and receding hairline. Macrinus adopted the full military breastplate (cuirass) rather than civic drapery alone, projecting his status as commander-in-chief of the legions to both the Senate and the populace. The laurel wreath symbolizes imperial victory and authority, executed with tied ribbons that flutter behind the neck. Die cutters occasionally introduced minor stylistic differences in the treatment of the shoulder straps, cuirass scales, and beard curls, reflecting individual die sinkers working within the administrative divisions of the Rome mint.

Reverse Iconography of Felicitas

The reverse iconography centers on Felicitas, the personification of fruitful success, civic well-being, and general prosperity. She stands facing left, fully draped in a stola and palla that fall in rhythmic classical folds. In her right hand, she extends a short winged caduceus, the symbol of peaceful commerce, good tidings, and concord borrowed from the domain of Mercury. Her left hand rests on a vertical sceptre, denoting majesty, sovereign oversight, and enduring power. Flanking her lower body across the fields are the large letters S and C, representing Senatus Consulto. This explicit senatorial sanction reaffirmed the legal tradition that base-metal currency was issued under the formal decree of the Senate. The selection of Felicitas represented an active effort by the imperial court to project optimism and divine blessing, assuring subjects that prosperity would persist following the violent demise of the previous emperor.

Inscriptions and Epigraphy

The obverse inscription reads IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, expanding to Imperator Caesar Marcus Opellius Severus Macrinus Augustus. Through this legend, Macrinus assumed the traditional imperatorial title, incorporated the praenomen and gentilicium of his own heritage, and adopted the prestigious cognomen Severus to forge a symbolic dynastic link with the revered Septimius Severus. The reverse inscription reads FELICITAS TEMPORVM, accompanied by S C in the field. Translating to 'The Felicity of the Times,' the reverse legend proclaims an era of peace, plenty, and harmony. Epigraphically, the lettering conforms to the refined capital serifs of the Severan age, with carefully balanced spacing along the beaded border, though die wear and irregular flans can occasionally cause peripheral truncation of certain letter forms.

Typology and Chronological Classification

RIC IV Macrinus 177 fits into the broader bronze series issued between April 217 AD and the summer of 218 AD. Harold Mattingly and Edward Sydenham categorized this issue within the undated emissions of Macrinus's sole reign, distinguishing it from tribunician-dated issues of 217 AD (TR P) and 218 AD (TR P II). Parallel types were struck displaying Felicitas standing with differing drapery arrangements or accompanied by alternate attributes, such as a cornucopia instead of a sceptre, as well as distinct bust treatments including draped varieties (RIC 176). The type also corresponds to smaller bronze denominations and precious metal parallels, where the FELICITAS TEMPORVM theme formed a prominent, recurring design element across denarii and aurei. The sudden overthrow of Macrinus by Elagabalus in June 218 AD brought an immediate halt to all official dies bearing his name and titles, establishing a secure terminal date for the series.

Circulation, Hoarding, and Preservation

Because Macrinus ruled for only fourteen months, his total bronze coinage output was relatively limited compared to long-reigning predecessors. RIC IV Macrinus 177 circulated primarily throughout Italy, Gaul, Britain, and the German frontier provinces, where bronze sestertii were necessary for civil transactions and everyday commerce. Archaeological evidence shows that sestertii remained in circulation for several decades after their initial striking, often staying in active use well into the mid-third century until the severe currency debasements of Gallienus and Claudius Gothicus rendered large bronze tokens economically unviable. Consequently, surviving specimens of RIC IV Macrinus 177 frequently exhibit moderate to heavy surface wear, smoothing of high-relief portrait details, and varied patination ranging from emerald green to deep brown or reddish-earthen tones. Hoard finds containing this issue typically group it with earlier Severan and Antonine bronze pieces rather than isolated single-reign deposits.

References

1. I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali, Vol. IV-2: Da Caracalla a Macrino. Macrinus Sestertii
2. Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700. ch. 6
3. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume V: Pertinax to Elagabalus. Macrinus, Rome Mint
4. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC IV Macrinus 177. RIC IV Macrinus 177
5. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IV, Part II: Macrinus to Pupienus. p. 18