A.D. 161–180 Roman Empire Silver Denarius Marcus Aurelius & Faustina 2-pc Set

“The Soul Becomes Dyed With The Color Of Its Thoughts”

Here’s a pair of classic Roman Silver Denarii coins struck from A.D. 161–180 with one featuring the bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the other showing his wife, the Empress Faustina the Younger. The reverses vary, but they typically involve pagan or political imagery. Marcus Aurelius was one of the most famous philosophers from the classical Roman world. Faustina was one of the most desirable women of the ancient Roman Empire and was rumored to have had numerous affairs with soldiers, sailors, and gladiators.

The Last Of Rome’s Five Good Emperors

As one of the ancient world’s preeminent philosophers, Marcus Aurelius was widely quoted for his stoic wisdom. Like the quote above, one of his most oft-repeated quotes is: “All things of the body stream away like a river, all things of the mind are dreams and delusion; life is warfare, and a visit to a strange land; the only lasting fame is oblivion.” With a reign that lasted from A.D. 161 to 180, Marcus Aurelius was the last of Rome’s so-called “Five Good Emperors.” These emperors were given that title because they reigned from A.D. 96–180 during a time when Rome was at its most peaceful, prosperous and largest. It was truly Rome’s golden age. This silver denarius was considered to be one of the most important coins of that era. It circulated heavily throughout the Roman Empire and was used in all forms of payment from shopping in the market to paying soldiers in the service of Rome.

The Mother Of The Camps

Marcus Aurelius’ wife was no mere trophy wife. Known as Faustina “the Younger” since her mother was Faustina “the Elder,” Faustina was the daughter of Emperor Antonius Pius. When Antonius named Marcus Aurelius his heir, he solidified the move by betrothing Faustina to the future emperor. It proved to be a successful marriage as Faustina bore Marcus 14 children and accompanied him so often on his military campaigns that she earned the nickname “Mother of the Camps.” So respected was Faustina by both her husband and his soldiers that upon her death she was deified and her statue was placed in Rome’s Temple of Venus. Faustina did have something of a scandalous reputation, however, the most famous one being that her son, the insane emperor Commodus, was not the child of Marcus Aurelius, but that of a common gladiator that she had taken as a lover

Finding one of these coins in nice condition is next to impossible, let alone TWO like we have here! So, there you go. Plus, each set will come beautifully housed in a presentation box and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Don’t wait to get this historic two-piece set of Roman coins more than 18 centuries old, order yours now!