★ Ex NFA XXII, 1989 ★

ROMAN EMPIRE. Marcus Aurelius.
Gold Aureus, AD 164-165. Rome.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: P M TR P XIX IMP II COS III, Victory standing right, holding stylus in right hand and resting left on round shield inscribed VIC AVG in two lines, set on palm tree.

About Mint State; a near-perfect example, boasting a spectacular portrait of Aurelius struck in high relief.

This coin published in X. Calicó, 'Los Aureos Romanos'.

Between AD 164-165, Marcus Aurelius faced significant challenges as Roman Emperor, primarily stemming from military conflicts on multiple fronts. The most pressing issue was the Parthian War in the East, where Roman forces, under the command of his co-emperor Lucius Verus, were engaged in a fierce struggle against the Parthian Empire. Although Verus nominally led the campaign, it was the capable Roman generals, particularly Avidius Cassius, who achieved significant victories. By 165, the Romans had successfully sacked the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon, and established a temporary peace. This victory, however, came at a cost, as soldiers returning from the East brought back a devastating plague, later known as the Antonine Plague, which would ravage the Roman Empire for years.

Domestically, Aurelius' reign during this period was marked by his efforts to manage the empire's vast resources amidst the strain of ongoing military campaigns. The emperor was deeply concerned with maintaining the stability and morale of the empire, even as it faced the growing threat of the plague. Known for his devotion to the tenets of Stoicism (and in particular its core conviction, that virtus (virtue) is the summum bonum (the highest good), Aurelius tried to embody resilience and rational leadership, focusing on the well-being of his people and the fortification of Rome's defences.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 101 (24/10/2017), lot 274 (hammer: 19,000 CHF); ex LHS Numismatik, Auktion 95 (25/10/2005), lot 819; ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 200 (23/9/1998), lot 710; ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 2, 21 February 1990, lot 674; ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction XXII, 1 June 1989, lot 67.

Reference: RIC III-128; BMCRE-364 note; Biaggi-; Calicó-1890 (this coin).
Rarity: Very Rare.
Diameter: 19 mm.
Weight: 7.22 g.