Here is my new Marcus Aurelius A friend at the local coin club gave it to me I am digging the coin! Only, I cannot, for the life, of me ID it. Please help It is: 26 mm diameter and 11.08 grams. It is also slightly magnetic. (I did take it to a friend that I trust to ask about authenticity; he said not worry too much about a little magnetism.) I think that it is a Dupondus. The Obverse is: MAVRELIVSCAE-SARAVG??.. I think. The reverse has almost an over strike kinda look to me (more likely just corrosion) and the legend has me stumped. The figure is forward facing and looking left (as you can see). The closest I have found is: MARCUS AURELIUS, A.D. 161-180. Sestertius (25.50 gms), Rome Mint, A.D. 149-150. RIC-(A. Pius) 1238. Bare-headed and draped bust of Marcus Aurelius right; Reverse: Juventas standing facing head left throwing incense on candelabrum (or altar) and holding patera. http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ol=1&sort=&c=&a=&l=#730n
Marcus Aurelius, AR Denarius, 149 AD, Rome. M AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F legend, bare-headed, draped head right. TR POT III COS II legend, Clementia standing to front, head left, holding patera, holding out folds of robe; CLEM in exergue. SC in fields. My best guess.
Based on the weight, I would say it is: RIC 1238[pius] sear5 #4831: Marcus Aurelius AE As. 140 AD. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS, bare head right / IVVENTAS S C, Juventas, wearing a long robe, standing left, holding a patera, sprinkling incense on a candelabrum.
It is listed in the British Museum Catalog volume IV page 305 as note to the second one listed that they lack in the collection but with obverse legend a4 (but they may have got one since the book was published). The legends are as Gil quoted but the weight/color makes it most likely a dupondius (IMHO). The coin strikes me as enough of a rarity that it should be reported to be sure it is included in future references. I'm sure they know of the general type but might not have the version with head (not bust) and legend a4. They list something similar as being in the Colchester Museum but do not give full details. I don't know if they would reply to a email inquiry from out of the UK or not http://www.cimuseums.org.uk/collections/identifications-service.html I would not mail the coin but might send a photo asking how it differs from the coins quoted in BMCRE IV page 305. I also suspect Curtis Clay (at Harlan Berk in Chicago or on Forvm) might know if it is known in this exact form.
Thank you everyone for help and comments on this one! I am really enjoying this unique coin Doug, great info.!!! I think that I will be trying to contact the British museums. It would be great if they answered my inquiry!
Here is an up-date: Colchester + Ipswich Museum replied to my query. They did not confirm the attribution of my coin, but did confirm that there museum does have an example of: Marcus Aurelius, AE Dupondius, 149 AD, Rome. O: M AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F, Bare-headed, draped head right. Rx: TR POT III COS II, Clementia standing to front, head left, holding patera. Holding out folds of robe; CLEM in exergue. SC in fields. It is: 26 mm diameter and 11.08 grams. British Museum Catalog volume IV page 305 but with obverse legend a4. The Curator of Archaeology at http://www.cimuseums.org.uk/ confirmed that, "Yes, we have such a coin". He gave it accession number is 2006.71.143. I think the "accession number" is a catalog number for the museum, but am not sure. Real happy that I got a response and that I now have an attribution that matches my coin I also emailed the British Museum of London but did not receive a response.
