Marcus Opellius Macrinus was Roman Emperor from 11 April AD 217 to 8 June AD 218. He was born in Caesarea in Mauretania in North Africa and rose through the imperial administration rather than the traditional senatorial military elite. Before becoming Emperor, he served as praetorian prefect under Caracalla.
Macrinus became Emperor after the assassination of Caracalla in AD 217, a plot in which he was widely suspected of involvement. His accession was unusual because he was the first Roman Emperor who had not previously been a Senator. His reign was short and troubled. He attempted to stabilise the Empire’s finances and made peace with the Parthians, but these actions, together with reductions in military pay and loyalty to Caracalla’s family, made him unpopular with the army. In AD 218, a revolt in favour of Elagabalus, a young relative of Caracalla, led to Macrinus’ defeat, capture, and execution.
Macrinus’ coinage is an important source for his brief reign. His coins were struck mainly in gold aurei, silver denarii and antoniniani, and bronze denominations. They usually show his portrait with a short beard and the inscription IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG or similar variants. The reverse types often emphasise traditional imperial virtues and stability, with figures such as Fides, Victoria, Providentia, Securitas, and Jupiter. These messages were likely intended to present Macrinus as a legitimate and capable ruler despite his non-dynastic background and uncertain claim to power.
Coins were also issued for his son Diadumenian, whom Macrinus first made Caesar and later Augustus. Because Macrinus ruled for only around fourteen months, his coinage is scarcer than that of many longer-reigning Emperors, especially in higher-grade examples and in gold.
