Watch List notes:

Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 4.63 g, 7 h), Rome, 173-174. [M ANTONI]NVS AVG [TR P XXVIII] Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. RELIG AVG IMP VI COS III Mercury standing facing, head to left, holding patera in his right hand and caduceus with his left. BMC 601. Cohen 530 var. RIC 298. Set in a mount with loop and with a minor flan crack, otherwise, very fine.


An interesting coin, set in a contemporary mount with a loop attached to it. The reverse alludes to the famous 'rain miracle', the miraculous saving of the Legio XII while battling Quadi forces in 173. Marcus Aurelius praised Mercury for the salvation of the army, but later Christian authors attributed the rescue to the prayers of Christian soldiers to God.