The boy emperor: about the short life of Diadumene and coins

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus was one of those Roman emperors who was considered only a nominal ruler. Power belonged to his father, Marcus Opellius Macrinus, who proclaimed his nine-year-old son Caesar. Marcus Diadumenus was born in 208 and did not live a full ten years – in 218, he was caught and killed while fleeing to Parthia, and Heliogabalus took his place.

Diadumene succeeded Caracalla, murdered by order of macrinus, who at that time was the post of prefect of the Praetorian guard. Soon the boy received the surname Antoninus, which was supposed to put him on a par with Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. In addition, he was awarded the title "leader of the youth". During his reign, a large number of coins were minted. Mostly denarii have survived to this day, but there are very few copies with the inscription "Augustus". There is speculation that most of them were melted down after the news of macrinus ' defeat. There are Eastern provincial coins that show the title "sebastos", the equivalent of the Roman title"Augustus". Below are a few sample coins with a portrait of Diadumene.