Macrinus. Sestertius

Macrinus; 217-218 AD, Rome, 218 AD, Sestertius, 20.96g. Cf. BMC-p. 522, citing Cohen-105 (Paris, 150 fr.), RIC-160 var. (obverse legend). Obv: IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS PI[VS F]EL AVG Bust laureate, cuirassed r., seen from front, with fold of cloak on l. shoulder, beard length probably short. Rx: PONTIF MAX TR P II around, COS II P P in exergue, S - C across lower field; Macrinus standing l. in quadriga, holding branch and scepter and crowned by Victory standing behind him. Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection; ex CNG E500, 22 Sept. 2021, lot 805. An interesting numismatic novelty: apparently the first recorded Rome-mint coin of Macrinus to add the titles Pius (dutiful) and Felix (Fortunate) to his obverse legend. Those two titles were quite usual for emperors from the reign of Commodus on: Cassius Dio attests, for example, that both of them were among seven honorary names and titles that Macrinus assumed on his own initiative in his first letter as emperor to the Senate in Rome. So Macrinus apparently held the titles Pius and Felix throughout his 14-month reign. Judging from its Emperor in quadriga reverse type and the datable titles TR P II and COS II in its reverse legend, the new Pius-Felix sestertius offered in this lot was probably struck in connection with Macrinus' entry into his second consulship on 1 January 218 AD.. F / VF