EGYPT, Alexandria. Macrianus. Usurper, AD 260-261. Potin Tetradrachm (22mm, 9.62 g, 12h). Dated RY 1 (AD 260/261). A K T Φ IOVN MAKPIANOC Є CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right / Eagle standing left, holding wreath in beak; L A (date) to left. Köln 3011; Dattari (Savio) 5380; K&G 94.1; Emmett 3785.1. Near EF, dark brown patina.
Fulvius Julius Macrianus was the elder son of Macrianus Senior, a general under the Emperor Valerian (AD 253-260). Macrianus Senior and his sons, who were probably serving as tribunes in the army, marched east with Valerian in AD 258-9 to confront the Persian King Shapur I; however, the whole campaign came to grief when, at a peace parlay, Shapur took Valerian prisoner, leaving the East at the mercy of the Persians. Macrianus Senior rallied the scattered and demoralized Roman forces. Aided by a general named Callistus (nicknamed “Ballista,” or catapult), Macrianus launched a surprise attack on Shapur that forced him to retreat beyond the Euphrates. Flush with victory, the soldiers offered the purple to Macrianus, but he refused on account of his age and lameness, and instead proclaimed his sons Macrianus Junior and Quietus as joint emperors. The new regime was recognized throughout the East, and coins were struck in the names of the two young rulers, primarily at Antioch, which issued Roman-style antoniniani, and Alexandria, which struck potin tetradrachms on the local standard. One major obstacle remained: Valerian’s son and co-emperor Gallienus, who had ruled in the west since AD 253. Quietus and Callistus were thus instructed to remain in Syria while the two Macriani marched toward Italy to depose Gallienus. Their passage west was unopposed until they entered a mountain defile in Illyricum and found themselves surrounded by a strong cavalry force loyal to Gallienus. Unable to escape, the legions were ordered to throw down their standards and acclaim Gallienus as emperor, which they reluctantly did. The Macriani were summarily put to death. Quietus and Callistus survived another eight months before suffering a similar fate.
