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Ruler: | Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus |
Reigned: | 139-180 AD and 161-169 AD |
Denomination: | AR 'Restoration' Denarius |
Mint: | Rome |
Date of Issue: | 168 to 169 AD |
Obverse: | Galley right. "ANTONIVS AVGVR" In exergue: " III VIR R P C" |
Reverse: | Legionary eagle between two standards "ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST" "LEG VI" across lower field. |
Reference: | RIC 443, RCVM 5236, RSC Mark Antony 83 |
Weight: | 3.1 gms |
Diameter: | 18.4 mm |
Comment: |
This coin copies the 'Legionary' Denarii of Mark Antony, minted around 31 BC in Greece for his war against Octavian. The reasons for this remarkable restoration remain obscure. Mattingly (BMCRE, p. cxxiii) suggests that Legio VI Ferrata, which had fought for Antony at Philippi in 42 BC, may have played a leading role in the Parthian War of 164 AD, the exceptional commemoration of this achievement on the coinage being prompted by the legion's long and distinguished history and the similarity of the names 'Antonius' and 'Antoninus'. The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Actium perhaps provides a more obvious reason for the issue. |
MARCUS AURELIUS and LUCIUS VERUS
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R13180