400, Lot: 545. Estimate $150. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Aradus. Macrinus. AD 217-218. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.71 g, 12h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Eagle standing facing, head left, with wreath in beak and wings spread; crescent between legs. Prieur 1280 var. (rev. legend). Good VF. Rare, only two specimens cited by Prieur, four on CoinArchives.

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 Though the fullness of Caracalla’s portrait has been replaced by the thinner style of Macrinus, the heavily furrowed brow and more closely cropped beard of Caracalla are clearly visible. See the previous lot for another example of this obverse portrait style.