Marcus Aurelius, as Augustus (AD 161-180). AV aureus (20mm, 7.31 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5, brushed. Rome, AD 165-166. M ANTONINVS AVG-ARMENIACVS, laureate head of Marcus Aurelius right / P M TR P XX-IMP III COS III, Felicitas standing facing, head left, right foot set on globe, caduceus in right hand, cornucopia cradled on left arm. Calicó 1899 (this coin). RIC III 153. Expertly struck from fresh dies resulting in strong dimensionality. Ex Wild Rose Collection; Numismatica Ars Classica with Jesús Vico, Auction 119 (6 October 2020), lot 103; Property of a Lady Collection (Christie's, 8 October 1984), lot 103; Victor A. Adda Collection. Marcus Aurelius was born in AD 131 into a patrician family of Spanish origin. At an early age, Marcus earned the patronage of the emperor Hadrian and was formally schooled at the Imperial court. He subsequently was adopted by Hadrian's successor, Antoninus Pius, along with Lucius Verus and, when Antoninus died in AD 161, the two assumed the title of Augustus together. The years AD 162-165 were consumed in ferocious conflict with the Roman Empire's only large, civilized neighbor, the Parthian Kingdom, a war that first erupted in the buffer state of Armenia. This aureus gives Marcus the title Armeniacus -- "Conqueror of Armenia," as the result of a campaign under the nominal command of Lucius Verus; the true commander of the eastern expedition, Avidius Cassius, would much later make an abortive attempt to seize the throne for himself. The quality of numismatic portraiture attained a high level under the Antonine rulers, as exemplified by the superb effigy seen here. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

To the auctioneer's website