Marcus Aurelius (AD 161 – 180) AR Denarius

Marcus Aurelius (AD 161 – 180) AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck summer AD 166. 19 mm; 2.84 g; die-axis c. 11 h M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX  Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius right. TR P XX IMP IIII COS III Victory standing facing, head right, holding palm-branch and affixing a round shield, inscribed VIC / PAR in two lines, to the trunk of a palm-tree. RIC III 163; MIR 18, 141-4/30; BMCRE 406; RSC 878.   Light silver-grey cabinet tone, reverse slightly rough but legends clear.

A delicately styled Rome-mint denarius struck in the months following the conclusion of the Parthian War. The reverse scene is a small masterpiece of imperial propaganda: the winged goddess Victory nails a shield proclaiming VIC(toria) PAR(thica) to a palm-tree, the conventional emblem of the East. The obverse legend trumpets Marcus’ newly earned titles Armeniacus and Parthicus Maximus, celebrating Rome’s triumph over Vologases IV after the capture of Ctesiphon and Seleucia in the spring of AD 165–166. Silver issues bearing this reverse were produced only briefly (tribunician year XX, consulship III), making them a popular target for type collectors.