Marcus Aurelius. A.D. 161-180. AR denarius. 3.09 gm. 18 mm. Rome mint. Struck December 161-December 162. His laureate head right; IMP M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M / Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on statue of Spes; cornucopia below seat; CONCORD AVG TR P XVI COS III. RIC III 37. RSC 36. Extremely Fine; beautiful iridescence over lustrous and fresh surfaces; crisp strike. Superb portrait.

Afflicted with many frontier wars, Aurelius wrote his celebrated "Meditations" while campaigning on the Danube frontier. David Sear reported "It has been written of Aurelius that 'in the evening of Rome's greatness her ruler fittingly personified the virtues that had been her glory.' He was a generous and conscientious ruler best remembered for his devotion to Stoic philosophy."