Macrinus, AD 217-218, Tetradrachm

Macrinus, AR Tetradrachm, AD 217–218, Emesa mint, 13.43 g, 26 mm. Obv. ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΟΠ ϹΕ ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ; laureate head of Macrinus right. Rev. ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟϹ; eagle standing facing, wings spread, wreath in beak; Η in field. Struck at Emesa on a broad flan in the provincial silver tetradrachm standard. RPC V.3 Online (unassigned), ID 87872; 3 examples recorded.

Macrinus, elevated from praetorian prefect to emperor after Caracalla’s assassination in April 217, governed chiefly from the Syrian frontier and concluded peace with Parthia. His eastern administration relied on provincial silver tetradrachms from mints such as Emesa to provision the legions, hence the Greek legends and eagle reverse typical of Syrian imperial issues. The formula ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟϹ records his tribunician and consular powers; the letter Η is generally taken as a workshop mark. His defeat by Elagabalus in June 218 ended this short-lived series.