Marcus Aurelius, 161-180, Sestertius

Marcus Aurelius, Sestertius, AE, emperor AD 161–180; Rome, AD 163–164; 25.8 g; 32 mm. Laureate head right; legend M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS P M. Reverse with legend TR P XVIII IMP II COS III and S C in field; Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm, commemorating the Armenian campaign. Struck on a broad flan typical of Rome-mint sestertii of this period. Reference: RIC III 862 var.

The titulature ARMENIACVS was adopted in AD 164 after Roman forces under Statius Priscus reestablished control over Armenia during the joint Parthian War with Lucius Verus; the tribunician date TR P XVIII fixes the issue to 10 December AD 163–9 December AD 164, while IMP II records Marcus’s second acclamation as imperator and COS III his third consulship. The S C indicates senatorial authority over the base-metal coinage, and the Victory type reflects the early successes of the eastern campaigns preceding the later Parthian settlement.