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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2624359, member: 57495&quot;]These two Marcus Aurelius sestertii are my faves.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]576244[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>MARCUS AURELIUS</b></p><p>AE Sestertius. 29.44g, 31mm. Rome mint, AD 173.&nbsp; RIC 1075; Cohen 535.&nbsp; O: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII, laureate head right.&nbsp; R: IMP VI - COS III, Mercury standing left on pedestal, holding caduceus and purse, within a tetrastyle temple with telamons as columns; semicircular pediment containing, from left to right, tortoise, cockerel, ram, winged helmet, caduceus, and purse; S-C in field, RELIG AVG in exergue.</p><p>Notes: <i>This type is popularly associated with the Rain Miracle of the Legio XII Fulminata (Thundering 12th Legion).&nbsp; According to Cassius Dio, the 12th Legion under the command of Marcus Aurelius had found themselves encircled and heavily outnumbered by a Quadi Army.&nbsp; Stricken with fatigue, thirst, and the heat, they were on the verge of capture when an Egyptian magician named Anurphis, a companion of the emperor, invoked the aid of Mercury as god of the wind and air.&nbsp; A sudden storm rose in the midst of the battle, reviving the Romans with rain while destroying their enemies with hail and lightning.&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]576245[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>DIVUS MARCUS AURELIUS</b></p><p>AE Sestertius. 25.61g, 31.9mm. Rome mint, AD 180, struck under Commodus. RIC 660. O: DIVVS M ANTONINVS PIVS, bare head right. R: CONSECRATIO, Eagle, carrying a thunderbolt in its talons, flying right, bearing aloft Marcus Aurelius, who holds a sceptre; S-C across fields.</p><p><i>Ex HD Rauch Summer Auction, 15 September 2008, lot 621</i></p><p><br /></p><p>And one final one, a sentimental favorite, being the first sestertius I ever bought...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]576246[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>ANTONINUS PIUS</b></p><p>AE Sestertius.&nbsp; 27.24g, 32mm. Rome mint, AD 158-159. RIC 1002. O: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII, laureate head right. R: PIETATI AVG COS IIII, Pietas standing facing, head left, globe extended in right, child in left arm, flanked by a child on each side at her feet; S-C across field. </p><p>Notes: <i>Pius&#039;s daughter, Faustina, as Pietas on the reverse, holding newborn Fadilla, with daughters Faustina and Lucilla standing by her side. </i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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