Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Diadumenian. Silver Denarius (2.80 g), as Caesar, AD 217-218. Rome, under Macrinus, AD 217. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust of Diadumenian right. Reverse PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian, in military attire, standing left, head right, holding standard and scepter; behind him, two standards. RIC 102; BMC 87-91; RSC 3. Virtually as struck, lustrous. Outstanding portraiture. Nearly Mint State.

This attractive silver denarius was struck in Rome soon after Diadumenian's elevation to the rank of Caesar, perhaps in celebration of his ninth birthday in September, AD 217. The obverse displays the Roman master of coin portraiture during the Severan era and wonderfully conveys the subject's youth and innocence. The reverse depicts Diadumenian standing amid Roman military standards in his role as 'Prince of Youth,' a title traditionally given to the heir to the imperial throne.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Goldberg 72 (5 February 2013), 4177; NAC 62 (16 June 2011), 2409; Gorny & Mosch 142 (10 October 2005), 2762.