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ANCIENT COIN CLUB OF
LOS ANGELES

ACTA ACCLA

COINS OF THE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS

The Five Good Emperors

Nerva | Trajan | Hadrian | Antoninus Pius | Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
RULED 161-180 CE

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (Marcus Aurelius) lived from April 26, 121 to March 17, 180 CE, and was Emperor from 161 to 180 CE. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169 CE.

Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors. He was succeeded by his son, Commodus.

Emperor Marcus Aurelius on a roman sestertius

Reverse of a roman sestertius of Emperor Marcus showing Pietas standing right

Marcus Aurelius
Rome
RANDY BUTLER

Sestertius (brass, 24.98 g). Struck 148-149 CE, twelve years before he became emperor, the coin shows Marcus Aurelius as Caesar. Obverse: laureated bust of Marcus Aurelius right, AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG P II F. Reverse: Pietas standing right, right hand over head of child, left hand holding scepter, PIETAS (in exergue) TR POT III COS II S C.
RIC 1281a (Antoninus Pius); BMC 1849.

Reverse of a roman sestertius of Emperor Marcus showing Salus standing right feeding a snake

Marcus Aurelius
Rome
RANDY BUTLER

Sestertius (brass, 23.56 g). Struck 169 CE. Obverse: laureated bust of Marcus Aurelius right, M ANTONINUS AVG TR P XXIII. Reverse: Salus standing left feeding snake arising from an altar, holding a scepter in the left hand, SALVTI AVG COS III S C.
RIC 964; BMC 1351.

Emperor Marcus Aurelius portrait on a roman silver denarius

Marcus Aurelius
Rome
BOB EFFLER

Denarius (silver, 3.88 g). Struck about 177 CE. Obverse: laureated bust of Marcus Aurelius left, Reverse: Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae, TR P XXX IMP VIII COS III.
RIC III, 359; RSC 938.

CITATIONS, FOOTNOTES & OTHER RESOURCES

1. Marcus Aurelius on Wikipedia.