Home
Macrinus - Augustus of Imperium Romanum from April 217 to 8 June 218
Marcus Opellius Severus Macrinus Augustus was Roman Emperor from April 217 to 8 June 218.

He was appointed Praetorian Prefect by Caracalla, after having served for decades as a skilled lawyer and bureaucrat. When it was prophesied that he would depose and succeed the emperor, Macrinus - fearing for his safety - resolved to have Caracalla murdered before he was condemned.

In the spring of 217, Caracalla was in the eastern provinces. On April 8, while traveling to visit a temple, Caracalla was stabbed to death by a soldier whom Macrinus had recruited to commit the murder.

However, Macrinus' economic reforms quickly angered the legions, and by June he was overthrown by a rebellion supporting Elagabalus.
Macrinus
Emperor Macrinus of the Roman Empire
(1) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate and draped bust right; AVT KA M__O C MAKPINOC CE
Reverse: eagle facing, head right, wreath in beak, head of bull below; ΔHMAPX EΞ VΠAT A
Ref: obv: Prieur 1249 / rev: Prieur 1248
(2) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind; AYT·K·M·OΠ_·CE·MAKPINOC·CE
Reverse: eagle facing, head left, wreath in beak, winged creature below; ΔHMAPX·_EΞ·YΠATOC Π Π / B_E
Ref: Prieur 896
(3) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; AYT·K·M·OΠ·CE·MAKPINOC CEB
Reverse: eagle facing, head right, wreath in beak, thigh of sacrificial animal below; ·ΔHMAPX·EΞ·_VΠA·TO· / ·Δ·_·E·
Ref: McAlee 721; Prieur 246
(4) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind; AVT·KAI·M·OΠ·C ··· E·MAKPINOC
Reverse: eagle facing, head left, wreath in beak, date palm right, crescent over crab below; ΔHMAPX EΞ VΠATOC Π Π
Ref: Prieur 1089
(5) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; AVT·K·M·OΠ·CE·_MAKPEINOC C
Reverse: Eagle facing, head left, wreath in beak, Three Graces standing within wreath between legs; Δ_HMAPX_·EΞ·YΠATOC Π Π
Ref: Prieur 1606 var. (obv. legend)
(6) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right AYT·K·M·OΠEΛ_·CE·MAKPINOC_·CE
Reverse: eagle facing, head right, wreath in beak, lion right between legs ΔHMAP·X·EΞ·VΠATOC
Ref: Prieur 943
(7) Macrinus 217-218 AD
AE unit Antioch
Obverse: laureate head right; AVT K M O CE MAKPINOC CE
Reverse: within wreath: Δ / S·C / E
Ref: McAlee 732(c); BMC Galatia p. 198, ...
(8) Macrinus 217-218 AD
AE unit Antioch
Obverse: AVT K MOC MAKPINOC CE, Laureate head right
Reverse: SC, delta above, all in laurel wreath
Ref: BMC 386
(9) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: eagle facing, head right, wreath in beak, shrine below; ΔHMAP·X·EΞ VΠATOC
Ref: Prieur 860 (same obverse die)
(10) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate cuirassed bust right; IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG
Reverse: Salus seated left, holding patera over altar from which a snakes rises to eat offering; SALVS PVBLICA
Ref: RIC 89 var. (backless chair type is...
(11) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΟΠΕΛΛ CΕV ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC, Bust of Macrinus facing right, wearing laurel wreath and cuirass, showing back
Reverse: VΠ CΤΑ ΛΟΝΓΙΝΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΟΝ, Artemis standing facing right, holding bow and reaching for an arrow from quiver on her back
Ref: Varbanov 3511 corr.; Moushmov 1221
(12) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG / Bust laureate, cuirassed right, seen from front
Reverse: FELICITAS TEMPORVM / Felicitas standing left, holding short caduceus and scepter
Ref: BM-9, RIC-62, C-19 corr. (6 Fr.)
(13) Macrinus 217-218 AD
Obverse: laureate head right; AVT K M OΠEΛ CE_MAKPINOC C
Reverse: eagle facing, head left, wreath in beak, jug between legs, thyrsos and ivy leaf below; ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠA TOC Π Π
Ref: Prieur 1642
(14) Macrinus | Diadumenian 217-218 AD
Obverse:
Reverse:
Ref: None provided