Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Marcus Aurelius augustus, 161 – 180.
Sestertius March-December 161, Æ 25.50 g. IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M Bare-headed bust r., drapery on far shoulder. Rev. LIB AVGSTOR TR P XV COS III M. Aurelius and L. Verus seated l. on platform; before them, Liberalitas standing l., holding abacus and wand. Below, man standing r., looking up. In exergue, S C. C 402 var. BMC 851. RIC 806 var.
Very rare and probably the finest specimens known and one of the best preserved sestertii
of Marcus Aurelius in existence. A magnificent portrait of fine style struck in high
relief and a finely detailed reverse composition. Wonderful brown-green patina
and good extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 54, 2010, 449. From the collection of Luc Girard.
This sestertius marks the first issue of coinage by Marcus Aurelius as Augustus, following his long tutelage as Caesar under Antoninus Pius, now dead at age 74. The inscriptions date it to between March and December, 161, and its reverse type attests to one of his earliest acts – the distribution of money. The Historia Augusta (M. Aurelius 7.9) records how Marcus Aurelius and his co-emperor Lucius Verus "...set out together for the praetorian camp, and in honour of their joint rule promised twenty thousand sestertii apiece to the common soldiers and to the [centurions and other officers] money in proportion." So large a bonus secured the loyalty of the soldiers, but, as this coin type shows, generosity was extended to civilians as well. Their largesse to the people (the liberalitas augustorum) is broadly recorded on coinage, appearing on aurei, sestertii, dupondii and asses of this first issue. The two emperors are shown seated on a platform, beneath which a citizen extends his toga so as to receive coins that would be dropped from the coin-board held by a togate, bearded figure who is an official rather than the usual personification Liberalitas.
Sestertius March-December 161, Æ 25.50 g. IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M Bare-headed bust r., drapery on far shoulder. Rev. LIB AVGSTOR TR P XV COS III M. Aurelius and L. Verus seated l. on platform; before them, Liberalitas standing l., holding abacus and wand. Below, man standing r., looking up. In exergue, S C. C 402 var. BMC 851. RIC 806 var.
Very rare and probably the finest specimens known and one of the best preserved sestertii
of Marcus Aurelius in existence. A magnificent portrait of fine style struck in high
relief and a finely detailed reverse composition. Wonderful brown-green patina
and good extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 54, 2010, 449. From the collection of Luc Girard.
This sestertius marks the first issue of coinage by Marcus Aurelius as Augustus, following his long tutelage as Caesar under Antoninus Pius, now dead at age 74. The inscriptions date it to between March and December, 161, and its reverse type attests to one of his earliest acts – the distribution of money. The Historia Augusta (M. Aurelius 7.9) records how Marcus Aurelius and his co-emperor Lucius Verus "...set out together for the praetorian camp, and in honour of their joint rule promised twenty thousand sestertii apiece to the common soldiers and to the [centurions and other officers] money in proportion." So large a bonus secured the loyalty of the soldiers, but, as this coin type shows, generosity was extended to civilians as well. Their largesse to the people (the liberalitas augustorum) is broadly recorded on coinage, appearing on aurei, sestertii, dupondii and asses of this first issue. The two emperors are shown seated on a platform, beneath which a citizen extends his toga so as to receive coins that would be dropped from the coin-board held by a togate, bearded figure who is an official rather than the usual personification Liberalitas.