ROMAN. EGYPT, Alexandria. Macrianus. Usurper, A.D. 260-261. Potin Tetradrachm (11.89g). Dated RY 1 (A.D. 260/1). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Eagle standing left, wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; L A (date) to lower left. Koln 3011; Dattari (Savio) 5380; K&G 94.1; Emmett 3785.1. Wonderful toning. An incredible example and undoubtedly the finest known. gEF. This tetradrachm comes from the brief Macrian interlude of A.D. 260-261, after Valerian's capture by Shapur I threw the East into crisis. Macrianus Senior rallied the armies and pushed the Persians back beyond the Euphrates with the help of Callistus Ballista, then declined the throne and raised his sons Macrianus and Quietus as emperors. Alexandria struck local potin tetradrachms for the new regime, but the attempt collapsed almost immediately; Macrianus was killed in the West, while Quietus and Ballista fell soon after in Syria, ending the dynasty within months. For a recently sold example see; Kolner Auction A122, lot 893, hammered USD 550. (P)

Estimate: AUD 750