RPC IV.4, 2398

 

Image of specimen #3

 

Coin type
Volume IV.4
Number 2398
Province Egypt
Region Egypt
City Alexandria
Reign Marcus Aurelius
Person (obv.) Marcus Aurelius (Augustus)
Issue Year Γ = 3
Dating AD 162/3
Obverse inscription Μ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟϹ
Obverse design laureate-headed bust of Marcus Aurelius wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right, seen from rear
Reverse inscription L Γ
Reverse design Roma (or Ares) standing with foot on cuirass, left, resting on spear, holding parazonium; before, small Nike standing on base, right, holding up wreath; on ground to right (or against base), shield
Metal debased silver
Average diameter 24 mm
Axis 12
Reference D 3340, M 2454
Specimens 6 (2 in the core collections)
Note The figure is conventionally described as Ares but a similarly clad figure, but seated, is identified as Roma by inscriptions on some issues of AD 161. Compare https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/24522, https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/24515, https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/70501, and https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/24546. On imperial coins both Mars (Pacifer) and Roma (Victrix) are depicted with a foot on a cuirass. Mars Pacifer holds a branch whereas Roma holds a spear and parazonium, as here. Mars Pacifer: e.g. RIC III, Commodus no. 242; Roma Victrix: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition), Vespasian no. 196.
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Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     NY: 1944.100.61144
2 2     O: HCR26896 M 2454
3 3     ✸ A: 3091
4 4     Aiello
5 5     CNG MBS 58, 19 Sept. 2001, lot 980 =Curtis 711
6 6     Naville Numismatics 45, 9 Dec. 2018, lot 220