I promise this is the last, though (this being my favorite
obverse die) I have two more of this die pair (Jerome, please forgive). This is indeed the most 'personal' looking
portrait of
Macrinus that I know. As you see, this coin was stripped, and I got it because in addition there is little wear on either the die or the coin and it shows, perhaps, that what we always call 'scale armor' might in some cases, even in most, actually be chain mail: this armor looks just like that of the noble
youth, often called St. Theodore, at the south portal of Chartres Cathedral (on the jamb farthest
west as I recall). Either metal discs attached to form
scales or the mesh was, of course, worn over leather. The one I posted for
Diadumenian is the only one that shows plainly a foreshortened rectanular base for the
column, though that may have been shown on others, too.
Actually, the one imported by Jochen is fresher on all the high surfaces.
17 08 01
AE26
Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Macrinus, laureate,
bust with detailed chain mail and some drapery, to r.
AVT K M
OPEL SEV MAKREINOS.
Rev.,
Nike winged, turning to l., leaning her l.
arm on a short
column with composite or similar capital and holding a very long
palm (which does not look like
palm), proffering a
wreath in her r. VP STA LONGINOV [NIKOPOLEI]
TON PROS IS (continuous, the epsilon-iota diphthong in the bracketed section uncertain). Not in
Pick,
AMNG I, 1 or
SNG Cop 2 or
Lindgren.