Macrinus
   19-17 mm. 6:00.
Possibly an imitation in good silver.
Beading diameter 16 mm.
The lettering is impeccable, but the protrait style odd. The nose is pointly and the chin weak.
Under magnification is is clear the the brown on the check is encrusted on it, not in it, and the metal seems good.
IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
    /FELICITAS TEMPORVM, Felicitas standing left holding hort cadeuceus and vertical sceptre.
Prototype:  Sear 2051. RIC 62, p. 10.
    I have seen one other, in England, like it in the sense that the metal looked solid but slightly green and the style was off.  I was assured by the dealer that he had seen it found in English soil and it was definitely ancient. The provenence of the above piece is unknown.

Diadumenian
  19-17 mm.  6:00.  2.75 grams
Patined black. Official style. Could this be a cast? Or could it be official and the silver has just tarnished to black? It is light weight, but so is the genuine BMC specimen.
M OPEL ANT DIADUMENIAN CAES
/SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower and gathering up flod in skirt
Sear 2072. BMC (Macrinus) 94, plate 81.3 (2.62 grams!). RIC 116.

Return to the page on Severan imitations.

Return to the main page on ancient Roman imitations.