Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 237. Estimate CHF4000.  Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013.  Sold For CHF5500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Macrinus. AD 217-218. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.45 g 12), Rome, January-June 218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right. Rev. PONTIF MAX TR P II COS II PP Macrinus, holding laurel branch and scepter and crowned by Victory standing behind him, standing left in the ornate car of a quadriga walking to left. Unpublished, but BMC - but cf. 54A (COS) and 57 (aureus but with COS II PP in exergue - genuine? = Calicò 2971). Calicò 2962 (aureus with COS PP in exergue). Cohen 104 var. (aureus). RIC 47 var. (aureus). Apparently unique and unknown. Well centered and attractive. Minor flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a European specialist.

This coin must have been issued just prior to Macrinus’ downfall and would have then been withdrawn, Aurei, sestertii, dupondii and asses with this type have long been known, but this is the first denarius to appear. This is not all that surprising: many Roman issues were originally produced in all metals but through the accidents of survival, only certain denominations are known today.