Silver Denarius - Ancient Rome, c. 139-161-180 AD
Ruler: Marcus Aurelius (as Caesar)
Obv: Laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius, right
Rev: Honos standing, head left, with branch and cornucopiae
Mint: Rome (struck 140-144 AD)
Exceptional portrait of the famous ruler and philosopher!
(Sear-R4784) 19mm, 3.24gm
Marcus Aurelius was Roman emperor from 161 to 180, ruling jointly with Lucius Verus until Verus' death in 169 and jointly with his son, Commodus, from 177. He was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors.
He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his untitled writing, commonly known as Meditations, is a significant source of our modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. It is considered by many commentators to be one of the greatest works of philosophy.
His death in 180 is considered the end of the Pax Romana and the increasing instability in the west that followed has traditionally been seen as the beginning of the eventual Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
