RIC III Marcus Aurelius 788

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 788. Denomination: Denarius. Authority: Marcus Aurelius. Mint: Rome. The obverse shows bust of Lucilla, bare-headed, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right, with the legend LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F.

The reverse shows vesta, veiled, standing left next to a decorated and lighted altar, holding simpulum in right hand and palladium in left hand, with the legend VESTA.

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 Antoninus ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 as a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. His reign formed the conclusion of the Pax Romana and was marked by external conflicts, including the Parthian War and the Marcomannic Wars, as well as the outbreak of the Antonine Plague in 165 or 166. During his imperial administration, Marcus Aurelius reduced the silver purity of the Roman denarius.

Struck at the mint of Rome, this silver coin belongs to the denomination that served as the standard Roman silver coin from circa 211 BC until the third century AD. The piece was issued under the authority of Marcus Aurelius for Lucilla, naming her in the obverse legend "LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F". The reverse pairs the inscription "VESTA" with a depiction of Vesta, veiled and holding a simpulum and palladium beside a lighted, decorated altar.

Physical characteristics

Material: Silver
Denomination: Denarius

Technical characteristics

Mint: Rome
Authority: Marcus Aurelius

Design

Obverse: Bust of Lucilla, bare-headed, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right
Reverse: Vesta, veiled, standing left next to a decorated and lighted altar, holding simpulum in right hand and palladium in left hand
Obverse legend: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F
Reverse legend: VESTA

Identification

Type reference: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 788
Denomination and metal: Denarius, Silver
Obverse legend to match: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F
Reverse legend to match: VESTA
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

RIC / OCREric.3.m_aur.788

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.

Can you source one of these? Submit a reference

Real-object photographs

reverse

Reverse of an additional specimen held by The Digital Coin Cabinet of Mannheim University, attributed by its institutional dataset to OCRE type ric.3.m_aur.788. Individual specimens vary in die, flan and wear; this photograph does not upgrade the record's confidence.

Photograph credit: The Digital Coin Cabinet of Mannheim University, via nomisma.org / OCRE

Licence: Rights clearance pending — source reuse terms require confirmation

Source object page

obverse

Obverse of an additional specimen held by The Digital Coin Cabinet of Mannheim University, attributed by its institutional dataset to OCRE type ric.3.m_aur.788. Individual specimens vary in die, flan and wear; this photograph does not upgrade the record's confidence.

Photograph credit: The Digital Coin Cabinet of Mannheim University, via nomisma.org / OCRE

Licence: Rights clearance pending — source reuse terms require confirmation

Source object page

reverse

Reverse of an additional specimen held by Coin Collection of Trier University, attributed by its institutional dataset to OCRE type ric.3.m_aur.788. Individual specimens vary in die, flan and wear; this photograph does not upgrade the record's confidence.

Photograph credit: Coin Collection of Trier University, via nomisma.org / OCRE

Licence: Rights clearance pending — source reuse terms require confirmation

Source object page

obverse

Obverse of an additional specimen held by Coin Collection of Trier University, attributed by its institutional dataset to OCRE type ric.3.m_aur.788. Individual specimens vary in die, flan and wear; this photograph does not upgrade the record's confidence.

Photograph credit: Coin Collection of Trier University, via nomisma.org / OCRE

Licence: Rights clearance pending — source reuse terms require confirmation

Source object page

specimen

Photograph credit: The British Museum

Licence: Free to use with attribution — source credit required

Source object page

Source library & references

Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
American Numismatic Society and ISAW, New York University · American Numismatic Society
Tier 1 · type corpus
Direct type reference: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.m_aur.788. September 2026 expansion; editorial review pending.
Wikipedia — the free encyclopedia
Wikimedia Foundation
Tier 4 · online encyclopedia
Background article(s): Marcus Aurelius (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius); Denarius (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denarius)

Related records

Last revised 2026-10-25. This entry documents a catalogue type or documented example, not an item for sale. It carries no valuation.