Description
L. Clodius Macer was a legatus of the Roman Empire in Africa in the time of Nero. In May 68 AD he revolted against Nero and by October of that year Galba had him killed due to suspicions that Macer harbored imperial ambitions. Macer’s denarii are extremely rare today with only 85 known to exist, only 20 bear his portrait.
L. Clodius Macer AR Denarius — Pro Praetore Africae Issue
(Carthage mint, May–October 68 AD · RIC I² 39 · BMCRE 1 345 var. · RSC 13b · Hewitt 58)
| Spec. | Detail |
|---|---|
| Obverse | L · CLODIVS · MACER / S C — Bare head of Lucius Clodius Macer facing right. The tiny S C (“Senatus Consulto”) below the bust is extraordinary on a silver piece; Macer brandished it to advertise that his rebellion was waged for the Senate against Nero’s abuses. wildwinds.com |
| Reverse | PRO PRA / AFRICAE — A sleek, oared galley sails left. The legend abbreviates Pro Praetore Africae, Macer’s official title as governor-general of Africa Proconsularis. The imagery shouts that he—and his fleet—controlled Rome’s vital grain supply. en.numista.com |
| Metal & Size | Silver denarius, c. 18–19 mm, ≈3.3–3.8 g (dies and flans hand-cut locally at Carthage). coinarchives.com |
| Rarity | One of only 20 portrait pieces known from Macer’s whole coinage and part of a total population of 85 denarii, all struck during the single summer of his revolt. wildwinds.com |
Iconography & Message
A bare, unlaureled portrait
Macer’s head is shown without the triumphal wreath—an intentional nod to Republican modesty. Paired with the S C, it frames him as the Senate’s champion, not a would-be emperor.
The war galley
Africa’s grain went to Rome by sea; whoever commanded the harbors at Carthage could starve—or feed—the capital. By engraving a fully manned ship, Macer reminded friend and foe alike that he held Rome’s stomach in his hands. Subtle variations in different dies (five to ten rowers, left- or right-facing) suggest hurried production in multiple workshops as silver arrived. en.numista.com
PRO PRA AFRICAE legend
Rather than the usual imperial titles, Macer trumpeted his legal office—“acting governor of Africa.” It was a clever way to mint pay for his troops while claiming legitimacy.
Historical Context in a Snapshot
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Early May 68 AD: Macer cuts the grain fleet, declares for the Senate, and mints emergency silver to bankroll Legio III Augusta and his self-created Legio I Macriana Liberatrix.
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June 68 AD: Nero commits suicide; Servius Galba marches on Rome.
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October 68 AD: Galba—fearing Macer’s imperial ambitions—dispatches the procurator Trebonius Garutianus to murder him. The revolt ends as abruptly as it began, but the coins remain a terse, silver chronicle of those frantic months.
Diameter: 19 mm
Material: Silver-plated lead-free pewter
Made in the USA
Packaged in a coin collecting flip with the description of the coin printed on the flip insert.
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