Silver denarius of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–180), struck at the Rome mint in AD 171–172, belongs to issues produced during the period of intensive military operations along the Danubian frontier, associated with the Marcomannic Wars. These conflicts, well documented in ancient sources such as Cassius Dio, represented one of the most serious military challenges of the later years of the emperor’s reign.
The obverse shows the bust of the emperor facing right, laureate and draped, with the legend M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVI, reflecting elements of his official titulature. The designation TR P XXVI refers to the twenty-sixth tribunician power and allows the issue to be dated to AD 171–172, corresponding to the period of campaigns against Germanic tribes.
The reverse depicts the personification Aequitas standing left, holding a pair of scales (libra) and a cornucopia, with the legend IMP VI COS III. The inscription IMP VI indicates the sixth acclamation as imperator, associated with military success, while COS III refers to the emperor’s third consulship. In Roman numismatic iconography, Aequitas symbolized fairness, balance, and the proper functioning of the economic system, including integrity in monetary affairs.
Roman Imperial
Marcus Aurelius (161-180), Denarius 171-172, Rome mint
Obverse: laureate, draped bust right
M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVI
Reverse: Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia
IMP VI COS III
Diameter 19 mm, weight 3.18 g
