Nomos win Marcus Aurelius

I am very excited. I have wanted to add a denarius of Marcus Aurelius to my collection for 2 1/2 years. I have been patiently waiting for the "right" one. I wanted one in at least vf condition, I wanted a strong portrait, and I wanted an interesting reverse. I believe this one ticks all the boxes for me. I also like the fact that it is a part of a pedigreed collection. It also seems to be quite scarce. I found 1 on CNG, and 4 on Acsearch.

I love the reverse on this coin. It reminds me very much of my Titus Judea Capta denarius with trophy and captive. I had no idea M. Aurelius issued this type of reverse. Of course in this case it is a German captive. It makes me wonder if Marcus Aurelius was referring back to Flavian times with this reverse. Marcus Aurelius is a fascinating historical figure for me. I very much enjoyed his "Meditations", and he played a major role in his time. When I saw this coin I knew I had to have it.

Please post your coins of Marcus Aurelius.


Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.31 g, 6 h), Rome, 173. M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. IMP VI COS III German captive seated left at foot of a trophy. Cohen 300. RIC 280. Well centered and attractively toned. Nearly extremely fine.
From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired prior to 1975.
Obolos 9 by Nomos. March 25, 2018

 

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Thats a beauty, love the reverse.

 

Congratulations, Orfew!

 

Nice job Andrew! Great looking coin from a great Emperor...

This was the very first coin I purchased from @John Anthony ... even carried it around in my wallet, so it had the opportunity to be around the world a few times...

RI Aurelius Marcus 161-180 AE Sestertius S-C

I retired it to the Albums, and decided to get a Denarius from Frank Robinson last year:

RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard
Like @lordmarcovan , I kinda recycle Seller's Pic... you know, instead of saving TREES, I am SAVING ELECTRONS!!!

 

That's a spectacular coin, Mr. Orfew! It has a beautiful range of surface tones—the portrait is great and the trophy stand on the reverse are unique. I've never seen one like it.

Here's one that I was fortunate to acquire from one of CT Ancient Forum's distinguished members.

 

Great coin Andrew. MA was one of the few emperors who was friendly with the Jews and he and his father-in-law are even mentioned in the Talmud as I have posted about previously. They rescinded the evil edicts of Hadrian against the Jews and their religion and they made personal friendships with a few revered Jewish sages. Judaea as a country had been all but obliterated but the religion spread and thrived and of course it's branch took over all of Rome in another century or so. Here is a sestertius honoring his ascent into immortality.

 

Great denarius!

 

Very nice and with a cool provenance. Way to go! I had to meditate on it but here is mine...

 

Very nice OP coin, congrats! I offer one with a more ordinary reverse, but perhaps an ominous connection might be assumed between the Salus reverse and the Antonine plague.. .

 

Excellent choice Orfew !
Here's my middle of the road Marcus A. / Salus denarius:

 

Very nice @Orfew

 

I wager it refers to the Marcomannic wars, perhaps specifically to the victory in 172 which led to "Germanicus" being added to MA's title on some coins.

Around the same time was the "miracle of the rain" (see Zumbly's writeup). This coin may allude to it:


Marcus Aurelius
Sestertius; 31 mm, 24 gm; struck AD 173, Rome mint
Obv: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Mercury standing left on pedestal, holding caduceus and purse (it looks more like a patera to me); within temple with figural columns (telamones); on semicircular pediment, tortoise (unfortunately worn on this coin), cockerel, ram, caduceus, winged helmet, and purse; S-C across fields; RELIG AVG in exergue
Ref: RIC III 1074; MIR 18, 258-6/37; Banti 260

A couple of my favorite MA coins are provincials:

EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius as Caesar
AE obol, 20.5 mm, 6.0 gm. Alexandria.
Year 15 (CE 151/2)
Obv: MAVPHΛICKAICAP; bust right, bare head
Rev: Sphinx crouched right in the pose of the Great Sphinx of Giza; LIE (date) above in left field
Ref: Emmett 1919.15, R5; Dattari 3221; RPC IV online 15684


EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius
year 12, CE 171/2
AE diobol, 22 mm, 7.53 gm
Obv: [MAV]PHΛIOC ANTω[ΝΙΝΟCCE]; laureate bust right
Rev: Uraeus serpent erect left, wearing headdress; "holding" sistrum and grain ear; LI - B across upper fields
Ref: Dattari 3605 and Pl. XXXII, 3605 (this coin). Dattari-Savio Pl. 193, 3605 (this coin); Geissen --; Emmett 2260.12, R5
ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)

 

Very nice, @Orfew !

 

Great coins @TIF

My coins was apparently struck between December 172 and December 173.

Here is the Titus I was referring to.

 

I have one with an extremely hungover Marcus Aurelius.
Some mornings are rougher than others.... remember he was just a mere mortal
at this point so give him a break.

Even Fortuna looks disappointed in his over indulgence!

 

Nice, Here's my Ebay Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius (161-180), Denarius, Rome, AD 161; AR
Obverse: IMP M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head r., Reverse: . CONCORD - AVG TR P XV, Concordia seated l., holding patera and resting l. arm on statue of Spes; under seat, cornucopiae; in ex. COS III.
RIC 3; C 31
I won 2 coins in Nomos too.

 

Fantastic coin @Orfew, great pick up.

 

For anyone interested here is a writeup about the Stoecklin collection.

http://www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/The-story-of-the-Stoecklin-Collection/4?&id=5245

 

Just learned I won this one--from the same provenance and same auction!


Faustina I, Augusta AD 138-141, wife of Antoninus Pius
Roman AR denarius; 3.51 g, 18 mm, 6 h
Rome, AD 141-161
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right
Rev: AVGVSTA, Vesta standing left, holding simpulum and palladium
Refs: RIC 368; BMC 435-8; Cohen 108; RCV 4587; CRE 153

From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired prior to 1975. Obolos 9 by Nomos. March 25, 2018