Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Jims,Coins]

Must be getting Close

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted during the reign of ANTONINUS PIUS and MARCUS AURELIUS as Caesar, in 140 A.D. Obv. ANTONINVS.AVG.PIVS.P.P.TR.P.COS.III.: bare hd. r. Rev. AVRELIVS.CAESAR.AVG.PII.F.COS.: bare hd. r. RCS #1333. RSCII #14. RICIII #415a pg.78. DVM #4. (F-VF/VF centered, full legends, problem-free & nice). JOINT CONSULATE

[Zarco]

I have 14 coins from Antoninus Pius, more than any other emperor.  He is one of my favorites to collect because his coins are so abundant and generally moderately priced, plus he has many architectural reverse types.  Here's a selection with what I think are the best portraits of Antoninus Pius and Faustina I from my collection. And somehow Marcus Aurelius managed to slip in there too.

Temple of Augustus Denarius

This the first of his coins that I acquired, which serves as my avatar here.

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
AR Denarius, 3.4 g, 19.0 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 158-159.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: TEMPLVM DIV AVG REST COS IIII; Octastyle temple, in which are seated statues of Divus Augustus and Livia.
Ref: RIC III 290a.
Acquired from London Ancient Coins, 16 February 2018.

Fourth Congiarium Denarius

In addition to architectural reverses, I also like to collect coins depicting or related to some historical event.  I'm not so big on the "someone standing there or sitting there" types.  I made an exception in this case, though.  I wanted a coin from the Westbury Sub Mendip hoard, so I picked this one from those available from Silbury because of its possible connection to the wedding of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger.

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
AR Denarius, 3.0 g, 18.4 mm, 7 h.
Rome mint, AD 145-161.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: TR POT COS IIII LIB IIII; Liberalitas, draped, standing, left, holding abacus in right hand and cornucopiae in left.
Ref: RIC III 155.
Acquired from Silbury Coins, 5 July 2020.
This coin was part of a hoard of 188 denarii found by Daniel Stevenson in Westbury Sub Mendip, England in May 2016.  The hoard is believed to have been deposited between late Summer 193 and Spring 194.
The type is believed to commemorate Antoninus Pius' fourth largesse distributed for the marriage of Marcus Aurelius Caesar and Faustina II in spring 145 AD.

Temple of Augustus Sestertius

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
AE sestertius, 24.9 g, 31.3 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 145-161.
Obv: [AN]TONINVS AVG PIVS P P; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: AED DIVI AVG REST COS IIII S C; Front view of octastyle temple, in which are seated statues of Divus Augustus and Livia.
Refs: RIC III 755.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 484, Lot no. 806, 27 January 2021.

Denarius with Marcus Aurelius as Caesar

I really like this coin.  It's a real two-fer; two nice portraits of two of my favorite emperors to collect on one coin. Spoiler alert! This coin may make another appearance for our next emperor, Marcus Aurelius.

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
AR denarius, 3.2 g, 19.0 mm, 12 h.
Rome mint, AD 140-141.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: [AV]RELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS; Head of Marcus Aurelius, bare, right.
Refs: RIC III 417A, Sear RCV 4524.
Acquired from Numismatik Naumann Auction 113, Lot 667, 6 February 2022.

Sestertius with Emperor in Slow Quadriga

I have to say, I just liked this coin when I saw it. Does anyone know if this type depicts any specific historical event?

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
AE sestertius, 24.5 g, 32.5 mm, 12 h.
Rome mint, AD 146.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: COS IIII S C; Antoninus Pius, draped, standing in quadriga pacing left, extending right hand and holding eagle-tipped sceptre in left.
Refs: RIC III 767a, Sear RCV 4168.
Acquired from Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 104, Lot no. 968, 15 December 2022.

Temple of Faustina Denarius

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
AR Denarius, 3.3 g, 18.3 mm, 11 h.
Struck under Antoninus Pius.
Rome mint, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA; Bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved in several loops round head and drawn up and coiled on top.
Rev: AED DIV FAVSTINAE; Front view of Hexastyle temple in center of which is seated a statue of Faustina I; pediment is ornamented and roof has statues and quadriga as decoration.
Ref: RIC 343.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 429, Lot 339, 26 September 2018.
From the DMS Collection, purchased from Pegasi Numismatics, 26 March 2009.

Temple of Faustina Sestertius - PIETAS AVGVSTI

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
AE Sestertius, 23.6 g, 31.99 mm, 12 h.
Struck under Antoninus Pius.
Rome mint, AD 143-144.
Obv: DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA; Bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved and coiled in bands across head and drawn up at back and piled in a round coil on top.
Rev: PIETAS AVGVSTI S C; Hexastyle temple on podium of four steps; on fastigium, quadriga; on angles, Victories.
Refs: RIC III 1148, Sear RCV 4632.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 529, lot 680, 14 December 2022.
Ex Antonio Carmona Collection (Roma E-Sale 82, 15 April 2021), lot 1368.

Temple of Faustina Sestertius - AETERNITAS

This is my latest acquisition, just received from Roma this past week.  This is my only veiled portrait of Faustina.

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
AE Sestertius, 22.6 g, 33.4 mm, 6 h.
Struck under Antoninus Pius.
Rome mint, AD 143-144.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA; Bust of Faustina I, veiled, right.
Rev: AETERNIT[AS] S C; Hexastyle temple, in which is seated figure of Faustina I.
Refs: RIC III 1115b.
Acquired from Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 105, Lot 870, 19 January 2023.
From a private UK collection.

[CPK]

Lots of great Antoninus portraits! 

We now move on to the philosopher-Emperor - Marcus Aurelius.

Dutiful, thoughtful, and introspective, this emperor would have doubtless preferred the quiet study to the military camp. But times were changing and the peace which the Empire had known for nearly two hundred years was beginning to wear thin.

Marcus Aurelius was assisted in his rule by a co-emperor - something Rome had not experienced before - his adoptive brother Lucius Verus. Verus died after 8 years and Aurelius continued alone for the remaining 11 years of his reign.

Let's see your portrait coins of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus!

[DonnaML]

8 minutes ago, CPK said:

Let's see your portrait coins of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus!

Hey, let's not forget Faustina II -- I have as many of hers as I do of Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus put together!  More, if you include Lucilla. And my name isn't even @Roman Collector!

[Severus Alexander]

Here's my favourite portrait of Marcus Aurelius as emperor:

I think it has a much more realistic aspect to it than his typical portrait.  For example, here's another coin of his I love, but the portrait seems to me to be more typically cartoonish:

I also like this portrait of him as Caesar on an As:

One other family portrait I really like is this one of Faustina Junior (sestertius, issued under A. Pi).  The coin has problems but the portrait shines through them! (Although she does look a tad worried, no?) 

[CPK]

25 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Hey, let's not forget Faustina II -- I have as many of hers as I do of Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus put together!  More, if you include Lucilla. And my name isn't even @Roman Collector!

Of course, they go with the Emperors! 🙂 

[DonnaML]

OK, guys first, beginning with a repeat performance:

Next, another example of the young, beardless Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, with Honos on the reverse:

The older, bearded Marcus; he appears to be gazing upwards in both, and at least in the first one he doesn't like what he sees:

Sleepy-eyed Marcus:

Dead-eyed Marcus:

Lucius Verus:

The column of Marcus Aurelius, Rome 2008 -- a trip that was my high school graduation present to my son. Hard to believe it's been almost 15 years already!

Marcus on a horse:

Marcus on a horse with some lady pointing at him:

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by DonnaML

[DonnaML]

Now for the ladies (and assorted children)!

First, another repeat performance, since that's believed to be Faustina II and her daughter Lucilla on the reverse, ca. 151 AD, cosplaying as Ceres and Proserpina, complete with a pomegranate:

Here's a very young and pretty Faustina; it's not in great condition but I love the portrait anyway:

Getting older, but always still attractive, with varying numbers of children (but not necessarily in chronological order):

One child, Marcus Annius Verus, b. 162.

Her twin sons, b. 31 Aug 161 AD -- Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (the older twin, d. 165 AD) and Commodus -- on a pulvinar.

The same scene on a dupondius:

Back to an aging Antoninus Pius for Faustina as Pietas, with three children probably representing the Emperor’s three granddaughters then living -- namely Marcus Aurelius’s and Faustina II’s daughters Annia Faustina (a/k/a Faustina III), Lucilla, and Fadilla; issued before birth of Cornificia in Aug. 160:

Four children: the two standing children have been identified as Annia Faustina [a/k/a Faustina III] (oldest child) and Lucilla (third oldest child), and the two infants in Faustina’s arms as Fadilla (seventh child) and Cornificia (eighth child). The coin was probably issued to celebrate the birth of Cornificia, the then-youngest child, in August 160 AD:

Now skipping five, and going directly to six. The two infants are the twins once again, also representing the Dioscuri (note the stars above their heads); the four girls are presumed to be Annia Faustina (a/k/a Faustina III), Lucilla, Fadilla, and Cornificia.

And six is as high as we get; if there are any coins with more, I don't have them!

So instead, let's go back in time once more to Year 12 of Antoninus Pius (AD 148/49) to see Faustina on a Roman Egyptian obol, with a crowned uraeus (the sacred cobra) on the reverse:

And how about an older Faustina II depicting the Great Mother Cybele, complete with a lion under her throne?  

The deceased Faustina II looks much livelier than her husband in the same state:

What actually might have proved to be my favorite Faustina II portrait is the one that got away: sent from Belgium and lost in the mail several years ago:

I have only one Lucilla, which I really do need to upgrade. (I have my eye on a couple!) But many of her portraits look very similar to this one, so I suspect that it may actually be close to her real appearance:

Last but not least, back to Faustina II, I like to think that this may also be intended to represent her:

Very fine Roman molded pottery (terracotta) portrait bust of a lady with hair in horizontal waves and chignon, possibly Faustina II or another empress, mid- to late-2nd Century AD, acquired 1890-1920 in Sousse, Tunisia (formerly Hadrumetum, Roman Africa; location of Sousse Archaeological Museum, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousse_Archaeological_Museum). 16 cm. x 9.5 cm. Repaired on neck, light chipping, tip of nose missing, otherwise intact. Red/brown/ochre terracotta color with remaining traces of white indicating, according to dealer, that the surface "received a second layer of fine-finishing during ancient production by applying a thin slip of white plaster/stucco which could be smoothed over the surface of the fired clay to conceal small firing cracks and so forth. The bust may then have been painted over with decoration or simply an even terracotta coloured wash, but this very rarely survives and so it's fairly impossible to ascertain" intended color. Purchased from Helios Gallery, Lower Kingsdown, Wiltshire, UK, Dec. 2021. Ex. Archaeology Auction 6 Mars, 2021, Lot 26, Hôtel des Ventes du Léman, Maître Albert Holtz, Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France; ex. Family Dumas Collection, Haute-Savoie, France; ex. Collection of Marius-Victor-Ernest Dumas (b. 1 Jun. 1865, Corps, Département de l'Isère, France, d. after 1920), contrôleur civil à Sousse (Tunisie), ca. 1890-1920 [after Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881], Chevalier du 12 avril 1903 (see MÉRITE AGRICOLE, Journal officiel de la république française, 22 octobre 1910, p. 8677.).

Dealer's photos:

[Roman Collector]

Let's do denarii this time.

Marcus Aurelius:

Marcus Aurelius, Augustus AD 161-180.
Roman AR denarius, 3.15 g, 18.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, 36th emission, AD 178.
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head, right.
Rev: COS III P P, Annona standing left, holding corn-ears in right hand over modius and cornucopia in left hand; to right, prow.
Refs: RIC 424; BMCRE 691; Cohen 151; RCV 4893; MIR 436-4/30.

Faustina the Younger:

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.01 g, 19.6 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, wearing stephane.
Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 688 var. (stephane); BMCRE 109; RSC 120b; RCV 5255 var. (stephane); CRE 189.

Lucius Verus:

Lucius Verus, AD 161-169.
Roman AR denarius, 3.17 g, 18.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, December 161-December 162.
Obv: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, bare head, right.
Rev: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia standing left, holding globe in right hand and cornucopia in left hand.
Refs: RIC 482; BMCRE 202-204; RSC 155; RCV --; MIR 37-14/10.
Note: Demonstrates the "all-round" legends used on Antonine aurei and denarii issued AD 160-163.

Lucilla as daughter of Marcus Aurelius:

Lucilla, AD 161-169.
Roman AR denarius, 3.38 g, 18.7 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 161/162.
Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VOTA / PVBLI / CA within laurel-wreath.
Refs: RIC 791; BMCRE 329-330; Cohen 98; RCV 5494; MIR 22-4/10a; CRE 275.
Notes: Szaivert dates the issue to AD 161/2. If this is to be believed (and not all authorities agree), she would have been 12 or 13.

[Edessa]

Marcus Aurelius as Augustus, AD 161-180. Æ Dupondius (14.71g, 27mm, 12h). Rome mint, struck AD 174-175. Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXIX; Radiate bust to right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Rev: IMP VII COS III; Annona standing to left, holding corn-ears over modius at feet and cornucopiae; S-C across fields. Ref: RIC III 1133 var. (bust type); BMCRE 1492 var. (bust type). Very Fine. Extremely Rare; unpublished with this bust type. From a private UK collection. Ex Roma 99 (7 Jul 2022), Lot 988.

[mc9]

My favorite Marcus Aurelius Denarius :

as Caesar

AVRELIVS CAES AVG PII F: bare head to right

TR POT XIII COS II : Virtus, helmeted and in military dress, standing to right with foot on helmet, holding spear and parazonium

AR Denarius. Rome, AD 158-159, RIC III 480

as Augustus

M ANTONINVS AVG-ARM PARTH MAX : laureate head of Marcus Aurelius right

TR P XX IMP IIII COS III : Pax standing facing, head left, branch downward in right hand, cornucopia in left; PAX in exergue

Denarius, Rome, A.D. 166,  RIC III 159

and Fausina :

FAVSTINA AVGVSTA : draped bust of Faustina II right

 SAECVLI FELICIT :  two infants seated on draped throne

Denarius, Rome, A.D. 161-164, RIC 711

Edited January 29, 2023 by mc9

[kapphnwn]

Marcus Aurelius Ae As 164-165 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm RIC 884 10.80 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

[ambr0zie]

Marcus Aurelius as Caesar

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar AD 139-161. Rome. Denarius AR. 18 mm, 2,63 g
148-149 AD. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F, head of Marcus Aurelius, bare, right / TR POT III COS II, Minerva, helmeted, draped, standing right, holding vertical spear in right hand and resting left hand on round shield set on ground. RIC III Antoninus Pius 444; BMC 683; RSC 618

As Augustus (one of my best condition coins)

Marcus Aurelius AD 161-180
AR Denarius 
175-176
M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARM, Head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right
TR P XXX IMP VIII COS III, Mars helmeted, naked except for cloak flying behind, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy, sloped over left shoulder, in left hand 
RIC 349
 

A Faustina II under Pius 

Faustina II AD 147-175. Rome
Denarius AR
18 mm, 2,81 g
RIC III Antoninus Pius 517C
BMCRE 1067; Cohen —; Strack 495
Date Range: AD 147-149
FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, bust of Faustina the Younger, band of pearls round head, with hair waived and coiled on back of head, draped, right / VENVS, Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and rudder set on dolphin, in left
 

Interesting portrait and hairstyle on a Saitta provincial 

Bronze AE
Lydia, Saitta, Faustina II, AD 147-175
16 mm, 3 g
Obv : ΦΑVϹΤƐΙΝΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, r. / ƐΠ Φ ΗΡΚΛΑΝΟV ϹΑΙΤΤΗΝΩΝ, Artemis standing, r., drawing arrow from quiver at shoulder, holding bow; to r., dog
RPC IV.2, 11561
 

 A popular type for Faustina II

Faustina II AD 147-175. Rome

Denarius AR, AD 160 (December). 17 mm, 3,16 g

FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right, hair in chignon behind / FECVND AVGVSTAE, Faustina as Fecunditas, standing front, head left, holding infant in each arm, two other young children standing beside her to left and right, holding onto her gown

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 676, RSC II 95, Sear RCV II 5251, BMCRE 89

Note from @DonnaML

See Foss, Roman Historical Coins, page 143, identifying the two standing children depicted on this coin as Annia Faustina [a/k/a Faustina III] (oldest child) and Lucilla (third oldest child), and identifying the two infants in Faustina’s arms as Fadilla (seventh child) and Cornificia (eighth child). The coin was probably issued to celebrate the birth of Cornificia, the then-youngest child, in August 160 AD.

 

2 posthumous coins with very pleasant portraits:

Diva Faustina II after AD 175-176. Rome
Denarius AR
18 mm, 2,71 g
176-180
DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, Bust of Diva Faustina II, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right / CONSECRATIO, Rectangular altar, with horns at left and right, and door on front (sometimes decorated with palms)
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 746; RSC 75
 

Faustina II AD 147-175. Rome. Denarius AR. 18 mm, 3,36 g

AD 176-180. DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bust of Diva Faustina II, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right / CONSECRATIO, crescent and seven stars, one within it, and surrounded by six

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 750; BMC 718; RSC 83.

[shanxi]

The portrait I like most:

Marcus Aurelius
AR Denar, Rome
Obv.: AVRELIVS CAES ANTON AVG PII F, head bare
Rev.: TR POT XIII COS II, Spes advancing left, holding flower, raising skirt
Ag, 3.32g, 16.2mm
Ref.: RIC III (A.P.) 479

[Qcumbor]

On that one the portrait isn't the best ever stylewise, but I like it for its unbelievable patina :

Marcus Aurelius, Sestertius - Rome mint, 173 CE
M ANTONINVS AVG TRP XXVII, Laureate bust of Mercus Aurelius right
VICT / GERM / IMP VI / COS III / SC in five lines within a laurel wreath
20,50 gr, 30 mm
Ref : RCV # 5015, C # 995 (15), RIC #1090
Ex Besançon Numismatique

Q

[shanxi]

Faustina Minor
AR-Denar, Rome, AD 147-148
Obv.: FAVSTINAE AVG. PII AVG. FIL. Draped bust right, wearing stephane and pearls.
Rev.: LAETITIAE PVBLICAE, Laetitia, draped and diademed, standing left, holding long scepter in her left hand, wreath in her outstretched right hand.
Ag, 3.58g, 17mm
Ref.: RIC 506c, CRE 196 [S]

[Qcumbor]

17 minutes ago, shanxi said:

 

 

I love those early portraits of Faustina Jr.

Need one !!

Q

[expat]

Can only add a Lucilla to this section

[Spaniard]

My favourite Marcus Aurelius and also Sestertius in my collection. Lovely chocolate brown patina and an added bonus was brought to my attention by @Roman Collector(thanks), it being a double die match to the only example in the British museum.

Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck AD 171...(32mm, 24.68 g)
Obv. Laureate, draped head right, IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TRP XXV
Rev. Fides standing left, holding Victory and standard, FIDES EXERCITVVM COS III SC
RIC III 997......Double die match to the only example in the British Museum Collection..

This is my only Faustina II coin..I love that beautiful portrait, neat detail on the reverse too.

Faustina II Junior Silver Denarius 3.36g.,17mm, Rome mint, A.D. 154-156,

Obverse. FAVSTINA AVG-PIIAVGFIL Draped bust of Faustina right,

Reverse. CONC-O-RDIA, Concordia seated left, holding flower & resting left arm on cornucopiae set on celestial globe below seat.

(RCV 4704; RIC 502a)

Took a while to find an affordable type that had a portrait that appealed...

Lucius Verus, 161 - 169 AD.
Silver Denarius, Rome Mint 161 AD, 18mm, 3.11 grams
Obverse: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, Bare head of Lucius right.
Reverse: PROV DEOR TR P COS II, Providentia standing left holding globe and cornucopia.
RIC#463

And finally a sweet little Lucilla..

Lucilla Denarius...165-169 AD Rome 2.64g...18mm

Obverse- LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right

Reverse- VENVS, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre.

RIC:784

[Prieure de Sion]

There is only one of my collection of Marcus Aurelius I really like with the portrait of the emperor. 

 

Marcus Aurelius as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 162/163 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 33mm; Weight: 24.42g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 843, BMC 1038, Cohen 564; Provenance: Ex Leu Numismatic Winterthur Swiss; Obverse: Head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right. The Inscripotion reads: IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M for Imperator, Caesar, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, Pontifex Maximus (Imperator, Caesar, Antoninus [Pius], Augustus, high priest); Reverse: Salus, draped, standing left, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar. The Inscription reads: SALVTI AVGVSTOR TR P XVII COS III S C for Saluti Augustorum. Tribunicia Potestate Septima Decima, Consul Tertium. Senatus Consultum (To the health of the Augustus. Holder of tribunician power for the 17th time, consul for the third time. Decree of the senate).

  

 

 

[LONGINUS]

Great coins and post @CPK!

 

[shanxi]

Lucius Verus

Lucius Verus
AR Denar, Rome Mint
Obv: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, Laureate head right.
Rev: FORT RED TR P VIII IMP V / COS III, Fortuna seated left with rudder and cornucopia.
Ag, 2.96g, 16.7x17.6mm
Ref.: RIC III 586, RSC 111

[Jims,Coins]

Back to the original topic, your most favorite coin of the Emperor, Caesar or Wife of Emperor.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of MARCUS AURELIUS in 166 A.D. Obv. M.ANTONINVS.AVG.ARM.PARTH.MAX.: laur. head r. Rev. TR.P.XX.IMP.IIII.COS.III./PAX.: Pax standing l., holding branch and caduceus.  RSCII #435 pg.208. RICIII #159 pg.225. DVM #69.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for FAUSTINA Jr., Wife of MARCUS AURELIUS, between 161 - 175 A.D. Obv. FAVSTINA.AVGVSTA.: dr. bust r. with double circlet of pearls around head.  Rev. FECVNDITAS.: Fecunditas standing front, head r., holding sceptre and child. RCS #1495. RSCII #99c pg.223. RICIII #M677 pg.269. DVM #13.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of LUCIUS VERUS in 164 A.D. Obv. L.VERVS.AVG.ARMENIACVS.: bare hd. r. Rev. TR.P.IIII.IMP.II.COS.II.: Mars, in military dress, stg. r., holding spear and resting l. hand on shield. RCS #1540. RSCII #229 pg.231. RICIII #515 pg.255. BMC #282. DVM #15/1. RCSVII #5355.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for LUCILLA, Wife of LUCIUS VERUS between 166 - 169 A.D. Obv. LVCILLA.AVGVSTA.: dr. bust r. Rev. VENVS.VICTRIX.: Venus, with breast bare, stg. front, head l., holding Victory and resting l. hand on shield. RCS #1575. RSCII #89 pg.234. RIC #786. BMC #353. DVM #15. RCSVII #5492. AVF, sl. grainy deep gray.

[John Conduitt]

I struggle for quality with Marcus Aurelius. I have 3 of him, all worse than my lone Lucius Verus and Faustina II.

Marcus Aurelius (under Antoninus Pius) Denarius, 158-159

Rome. Silver, 17mm, 2.73g. Head of Marcus Aurelius, bare, right; AVRELIVS CAES-AVG PII F. Virtus, helmeted, in military dress, standing right, left foot on helmet, holding inverted vertical spear in right hand and parazonium upright in left; TR POT XIII COS II (RIC III, 480E). Found in Hertfordshire.

Lucius Verus Denarius, 163-164

Rome. Silver, 16mm, 3.16g. Lucius Verus, laureate, cuirassed, right; L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS. Mars standing right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield set on ground; TR P IIII IMP II COS II (RIC III, 514). Found in Yorkshire.

Faustina II Denarius, 145-161

Rome. Silver, 18mm, 2.68g. Bust of Faustina the Younger, band of pearls round head, hair waived and coiled on back of head, draped, right; FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL. Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and rudder set on dove, in left; VENVS (RIC III, Antoninus Pius 515A (denarius)). Found Rossington, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Portable Antiquities Scheme: SWYOR-D8E6A8.

[Limes]

Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius:

Favorite portraits:

Identical reverses: