CNG 100, Lot: 1749. Estimate $500. Sold for $813. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Aradus. Macrinus. AD 217-218. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.03 g, 6h). AV KAI M AV CЄO OΠ MAKPINOC C, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with features of Caracalla / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠATOC T Δ, eagle standing facing, head left, with wreath in beak and wings spread; crescent between legs. Cf. Prieur 1278 (legends). Good VF, some striking weakness. Extremely rare and unusual, and apparently an unpublished hybrid.

This unusual issue appears to have been struck at the beginning of Macrinus’ reign, as certain holdovers from Caracalla’s reign are present, most notably in the portrait. Though the fullness of Caracalla’s portrait has been replaced by the thinner style of Macrinus, the heavily furrowed brow and more lowly cropped beard of Caracalla is clearly visible. Additionally, the obverse legend contains the abbreviation for ‘Aurelius,’ (the second instance of the AV) which was not a part of Macrinus’ name, and also switches the order of Opellius and Severus from their expected placement. Lastly, the reverse legend clearly ends with a ‘Δ,’ a numeral letter which was never utilized, nor would make sense, for Macrinus’ reign. It was, however, the reading of the legend for the last series of Caracalla’s tetradrachms, meaning that this likely represents a hybrid of types between the two emperors.