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Orbis Collectibles

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1001

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1001. Denomination: Sestertius. Authority: Marcus Aurelius. Mint: Rome. The obverse shows head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right, with the legend M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV.

The reverse shows victory, winged, naked to waist, standing front, head right, setting on palm-tree right, shield inscribed VIC GER, with the legend IMP VI COS III S C.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
5
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Marcus Aurelius ruled as Roman emperor from 161 to 180, representing the Nerva–Antonine dynasty and the final ruler of the Pax Romana. His reign was marked by significant military conflict, including campaigns in the East as well as the Marcomannic Wars, in which he defeated the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Iazyges amidst escalating troubles with Germanic peoples.

Struck at the Rome mint, this bronze sestertius belongs to the imperial coinage system, in which the denomination represented a value useful for commerce equivalent to one quarter of a denarius or two and a half asses. The reverse design features Victory placing a shield inscribed "VIC GER" upon a palm tree, accompanied by the reverse legend "IMP VI COS III S C". Alongside the obverse inscription "M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV", the imagery directly references Roman military success over Germanic adversaries.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Denomination
Sestertius

Technical characteristics

Mint
Rome
Authority
Marcus Aurelius

Design

Obverse
Head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right
Reverse
Victory, winged, naked to waist, standing front, head right, setting on palm-tree right, shield inscribed VIC GER
Obverse legend
M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV
Reverse legend
IMP VI COS III S C

Identification

Type reference
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1001
Denomination and metal
Sestertius, Bronze
Obverse legend to match
M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV
Reverse legend to match
IMP VI COS III S C
Source note
Type description from the American Numismatic Society's Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE); individual specimens differ in die, flan size, weight and wear, and legend breaks may vary.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Varieties

  • RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1000

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

Research required

  • Editorial verification required.
  • Weight, diameter and mint marks require specimen-level evidence.
  • Museum specimen photographs are linked by the source; local photographs and reuse rights remain unverified.
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