Rare denarius of Macrinus (AD 217–218), struck at the Rome mint between AD 217–218, belongs to issues produced immediately after his accession following the death of Caracalla. The brevity of his reign is clearly reflected in the coinage, which served as a primary instrument for stabilizing and legitimizing the authority of a ruler who did not originate from the established dynasty.
The obverse presents a laureate and cuirassed bust of the emperor facing right, with the legend IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, giving his full titulature as imperator and augustus.
The reverse depicts Fides standing left, holding two military standards, with one foot resting on a helmet, accompanied by the legend FIDES MILITVM. Fides, as the personification of loyalty and trust, in this context refers explicitly to the army (militum). This type belongs to a well-defined iconographic group employed during moments of political transition, when emphasizing the loyalty of the military to the new emperor was of critical importance.
The historical background of this imagery is firmly attested: Macrinus owed his elevation to the support of the army, and his rule depended on maintaining that loyalty. Ancient sources, including Cassius Dio, emphasize the decisive role of the military both in his rise and in his downfall, a reality directly mirrored in the choice of reverse types.
This issue thus represents a clear and historically grounded example of imperial messaging, linking titulature and imagery to the political conditions of Macrinus’ short-lived reign.
Roman Imperial
Macrinus (217-218), Denarius 217-218, Rome mint
Obverse: laureate and cuirassed bust right
IMP C M OPEL SAV MACRINVS AVG
Reverse: Fides standing front, foot on helmet, standard in each hand
FIDES MILITVM
Diameter 20 mm, weight 2.88 g
