Marcus Aurelius Coins
161 AD
Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD) ruled through the Antonine Plague and the Marcomannic Wars, and his coinage documents both the philosopher- emperor's peaceful ideals and the military crises that defined his later reign. As Caesar under Antoninus Pius (139–161 AD), Marcus appears on an extensive series of coins with youthful, bare-headed portraits; after accession, the familiar bearded laureate bust predominates. His co-emperor Lucius Verus (161–169 AD) adds a parallel series. The Rome mint produced the vast majority of types, with sestertii in particular showcasing exceptionally detailed reverse compositions — the German and Sarmatian campaign types, the decennalia celebrations, and the SALVTI AVGVSTOR plague-era votive types. Denominations span gold aurei through denarii to the full range of base metal issues. The standard reference is RIC III (Mattingly and Sydenham 1930). Collectors value Marcus Aurelius sestertii for their portrait quality and historical resonance; denarii are plentiful and accessible. The reign also produced commemorative types for the deified Faustina II, adding depth to any collection focused on this period.
Coin Types (657)
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