Diadumenian

 

Diadumenian, mid May - 8 June 218 A.D. Diadumenian was the son on Macrinus and made Caesar at the age of nine in 217 A.D. and Augustus in 218. After his fathers defeat he fled towards Parthia but was overtaken and executed.

Malcolm Megaw ' Diadumenian Website


Obverse Legends

IMPCMOPELANTDIADVMENAVG
MOPELANTDIADVMENIANCAES
MOPELDIADVMENIANCAES
MOPELDIADVMENIANVSCAES


Dictionary of Roman Coins



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DIADUMENIANUS (Marcus Opelius), son of Macrinus, and of Nonia Celsa, was born in the year of Rome 961 (A.D 208) on the 19th December, the anniversary day of the birth of Antoninus Pius.  Macrinus, become emperor A.D. 217, gave to his son the name of Antoninus and the Titles of Caesar and of Prince of the Youth; and in 218 named him Augustus, although he was then only ten years of age. - The fall of Macrinus followed so closely on the elevation of his son to the dignity of Augustus that very few coins struck in the name of this young prince are known to have this title.  Macrinus having been defeated, sent Diadumenianus to Artabanes, King of the Parthians; but the soldiers entrusted with the charge of conducting him to the territories of that eastern monarch, delivered him over to the partisans of Elagabalus, and he was slain.  From his maternal grandfather he inherited the name of Diadumenianus, which, on his pretended adoption into the family of the Antonines, was changed into Diadumenianus.  His portrait on coins does not answer to the description which Lampridius gives of the extreme beauty of the child.  Hw is on numismatic monuments, styled M. OPEL. ANTONINVS DIADVMENIANVS CAES(AR) or M. OP. DIADVMEN. - The silver coins of Diadumenian are rare; the gold, of the highest rarity. Second, brass are rare; first brass very rare. - Notwithstanding the shortness of his life and reign, the number of coins minted in his name, particually out of Rome, is considerable.  The following are among the rarest reverses:-

GOLD. - PRINC. IVVENTVTIS (valued by Mionnet at 400 & 600 fr.) - SPES. PVBLICA (600 fr.)

SILVER. - FIDES MILITVM (60 fr.)

BRASS MEDALLION. - PRINC. IVVENTVTIS.

FIRST BRASS. - M. OPEL. ANTONINVS DIADVMENIANVS. Bust of Diadumenian, to the right, bare head, habited in the paludamentum .

Rev. - PRINC(EPS) IVVENTVTIS. Prince of the youth. - The young Caesar, waring the paludamentum, stands bare-headed, holding in the right hand an ensign, and in the left a spear; on his left are two other ensigns planted in the ground.  In the field S. C.

[A fine specimen of this large brass brought £3 at the Devonshire sale. - From another, in the highest state of presevation, the preceding type of the obverse has been faithfully engraved; and an accurate cut from its reverse, equally remarkable for its fine workmanship as the portrait, will be found under PRINC.  IVVENTVTIS.]


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