Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.Coin 16 of 30
Diadumenian as Caesar :  Antoninianius
US$2450

217-218 AD, Antoninianius, Rome, 217
 AD, 4.37g. C-11 (80 Fr.), BM-82
 note. Obv: M OPEL DIADVMENIANVS CAES
 Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r.,
 seen from front. Rx: PRINC
 IVVENTVTIS Diadumenian standing l.
 holding baton and scepter, two
 standards behind him topped by eagle
 and wreath respectively. Very rare
 denomination for Diadumenian, since
 Macrinus halted the production of
 antoniniani soon after the beginning
 of his reign. Only the 23rd
 antoninianus of Diadumenian known to
 us from material covering
 many public and private collections,
 dealers' stocks, and published
 sources. These 23 coins come from
 five obverse dies, two with bust
 type as our coin and three with bust
 radiate draped seen from behind, and
 from ten reverse dies. Possibly most
 of these dies were in use
 simultaneously and were then
 discarded while still in sound
 condition when the denomination was
 discontinued. Our coin is from the
 same dies as A. Hess, 30 April 1917,
 Horsky 3840; its reverse die was
 also used with an obverse die
 showing the other bust type, e.g.
 Hess 1935, Trau 2404. A great
 rarity. Good VF