Clodius Macer, April (?) – October (?) 68. Denarius, Carthage (?), April – October (?) 68, AR 3.45 g. ROMA Helmeted head of Roma r.; at sides, S – C. Rev. L CLODI – MACRI Trophy. C 9 var. BMC p. 287 note var. RIC 31. CBN –. Hewitt, NC 1983, pl. XII, 47 var.
An apparently unrecorded variety of an extremely rare type. Well struck
on unusually good metal and with a pleasant iridescent tone.
Minor nick on cheek, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Sternberg XXVI, 1992, 290 (illustrated on the cover page); Pegasi II, 1996, 298 and NAC 45, Barry Feirstein Collection IV, April 2008, 95 sales.
Clodius Macer’s revolt in North Africa added greatly to the woes of Nero, who had survived the uprising of Vindex in Gaul only to find himself in the midst of Galba’s more formidable challenge in Spain. Now at an impasse, Nero had finally come to understand that there were consequences for his callous treatment of provincial governors and administrators.
Though it was clear from the outset of Galba’s insurrection that he intended to replace Nero as emperor, the same cannot be said with certainty about Clodius Macer since one of the remarkable aspects of his coinage is his use of the formulaic S.C. (senatus consulto) on his denarii. This abbreviation otherwise had not been used on Roman silver coins since about 40 B.C., and we may take that, along with his decision to avoid portraying himself with a laurel crown, as a message to the senate that his revolt was perhaps aimed exclusively at liberating the senate from Nero.
The obverse of this coin reflects the spirit of what Macer professes is the goal of his revolt – the liberation of Rome from the tyranny of Nero; the head of the goddess Roma is shown in its traditional form, wearing a crested helmet. The warlike tenor carries over to the reverse with a trophy of arms and armor, a design type which had not been in significant use since the civil wars of the 40s B.C. That Macer would reach far back in time for designs comes as no surprise since other of his types are recycled from coinage struck in anticipation of the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C.