Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 515 4 May 2022
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MYSIA, Parium. Antoninus Pius, with Marcus Aurelius as Caesar and Faustina Junior. AD 138-161. Æ (19mm, 4.82 g, 6h). Struck AD 138-145. IMP ANTONINO CAES PIO AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VERVS ET FAVST, bareheaded and draped bust of Marcus Aurelius vis-à-vis draped and diademed bust of Faustina II. RPC IV.2 10146; Meshorer 41 var. (Aelia Capitolina, bust of Pius). Brown patina, deposits. Near VF. Very rare, four known to RPC, two at CoinArchives.
Marcus Aurelius' name, at the time of his adoption by Hadrian, was Marcus Annius Verus, (Dio 69.21.1). He became engaged to Faustina II in AD 138 and married in AD 145 but did not take the name Marcus Aurelius until his ascension to the purple in AD 161. As this coin names him still as Verus, it seems likely that it was struck to celebrate his engagement to Faustina during those seven years, thus dating the coin earlier than the years offered by RPC, ca. AD 147-161. The obverse legend doesn't help in dating the coin as it is unique to this issue.
Marcus Aurelius' name, at the time of his adoption by Hadrian, was Marcus Annius Verus, (Dio 69.21.1). He became engaged to Faustina II in AD 138 and married in AD 145 but did not take the name Marcus Aurelius until his ascension to the purple in AD 161. As this coin names him still as Verus, it seems likely that it was struck to celebrate his engagement to Faustina during those seven years, thus dating the coin earlier than the years offered by RPC, ca. AD 147-161. The obverse legend doesn't help in dating the coin as it is unique to this issue.