Lot 110
Rome. Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, 139-161 AD. Gold Aureus (7.33 g), Rome mint, struck 158-159 AD. Draped, and cuirassed bust of bearded Aurelius right. Reverse: Virtus stands right, in military attire, foot resting on helmet, while holding reversed spear and parazonium; TR POT XIII COS II. Biaggi 892 (same dies); RIC 480b; C. 747; BMCRE 962; Strack 354. Finely centered and sharply struck, on a nearly round flan. Of superb style, this among the most elegant of his portraits. Virtually as struck, with light reddish toning. Scarce. NGC graded Uncirculated.
When this coin was minted, our Caesar was imbued in philosophy and wrote such lines as: "Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
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| Realized $22,425 |
