Watch List notes:

Marcus Aurelius. Sestertius; Marcus Aurelius; 161-180 AD, Rome, 173 AD, Sestertius, 21.42g. BM-1441, bust var. of C-535 (25 Fr.) and RIC-1075. Obv: M ANTONINVS - AVG TR P XXVII Head laureate r. Rx: RELIG AVG in exergue, IMP VI - COS III around, S - C across field, Mercury standing l. on pedestal, holding purse and caduceus, within four-columned temple with semicircular pediment; the four columns have human busts at top, like terms; in pediment, a ram in center, between a cock on l. and a winged caduceus and pellet (tortoise or purse?) on r., with an X (petasus?) and another pellet above. The type of Mercury in temple "refers to the Egyptian Hermes, god of the air, invoked by the magician Arnuphis at the battle of the 'Miracle of the Rain' in the land of the Quadi" (BMC, pp. cxxv f.). From the Phil Peck Collection; ex Rosenberg 64, 19 June 1928, lot 1693.This coin is desirable and scarce, and one of the finest examples we could find in our library of 20th century auction catalogues. Olive green patina. EF

Estimate: $3000