Catalog
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| Issuer | Rhesaena (Mesopotamia) |
|---|---|
| Year | 217-218 |
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| Composition | Billon |
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| Obverse description | Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Diadumenian as Caesar facing right, seen from the rear, with paludamentum visible over the left shoulder. The portrait displays the youthful features characteristic of Diadumenian's numismatic representations. The Greek legend encircles the bust within the field. The overall style reflects the provincial die-cutting tradition of Mesopotamian mints under the brief joint reign of Macrinus and Diadumenian. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Macrinus ruled for just fourteen months before being overthrown and executed in 218 AD, making any provincial issue struck in his name inherently short-lived. Rhesaena, a garrison town in northern Mesopotamia near the Khabur River, sat uncomfortably close to the Parthian frontier — its mint activity under Macrinus reflects his urgent need to consolidate eastern support after assassinating Caracalla and inheriting a half-finished war with Parthia.
The legend fragment ΥΠΑΤΟϹ ΤΟ Δ records his fourth consulship, held in 218 AD, which narrows the striking window to his final months in power before the revolt of Elagabalus ended the dynasty he never quite established.