Ancient Roman, Empire Historical coin Divus Marcus Aurelius, last of the 'Five Good Emperors'
03
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22
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47
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28
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Current bid
€ 45
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 180 - € 220
35 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 1228 | €45 | |
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| Bidder 1228 | €40 | |
| Bidder 1228 | €35 | |
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Ancient Roman Empire historical coin Divus Marcus Aurelius, last of the 'Five Good Emperors', an Æ Sestertius struck in Rome in 180 AD, in good condition with a diameter of about 30.6 mm; commemorates the deification of Marcus Aurelius.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coins - symbols of power - struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
Divus Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), Æ Sestertius, struck Rome 180 AD.
Obverse: DIVVS M ANTONINVS PIVS, bare head to right.
Reverse: CONSECRATIO, garlanded funeral pyre of four tiers surmounted by statue of Aurelius in facing quadriga; S-C across fields.
Diameter: ± 30,6 mm
Ref: RIC III 662 (Commodus).
This sestertius commemorates the deification of Marcus Aurelius, emphasizing the Emperor’s divine status after his death. Interesting and historical coin.
Very fine with smooth olive-green patina. Natural coin without any tooling. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request.
Marcus Aurelius: Roman Emperor (161-180 AD). Last of the 'Five Good Emperors' and described as the 'Philosopher King'. His death in 180 AD is considered to mark the end of the 'Pax Romana' (golden period of peace and stability in the Roman Empire).
CONSECRATIO
Design on the reverse of a coin struck in honour of Marcus Aurelius after his death in 180 AD. The type is a funeral pile of four stories, the basement ornamented with festoons; the upper tiers adorned with statues, and at the summit an imperial quadriga. On the obverse the head of that Emperor is represented under the features of an old man, with this legend 'DIVVS Marcus ANTONINVS PIVS'.
The ceremony of consecration was very solemn and imposing. After the body had been clothed in the habiliments of death, it was placed on a bed of ivory. Young men, chosen from the equestrian order, bore it on their shoulders to the pile. The corpse being then introduced into the second layer or story, it was surrounded with aromatics and precious balms. The usual ceremonies being completed, a torch was applied, and the mass was consumed. After this apotheosis, the deceased Emperor or Empress had temples, altars, and priests dedicated to his or her honour, and the same worship was paid to the defunct, as paganism rendered to its gods and goddesses; whilst the Augusti, or Augustae, were thenceforth called DIVI and DIVAE.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coins - symbols of power - struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
Divus Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), Æ Sestertius, struck Rome 180 AD.
Obverse: DIVVS M ANTONINVS PIVS, bare head to right.
Reverse: CONSECRATIO, garlanded funeral pyre of four tiers surmounted by statue of Aurelius in facing quadriga; S-C across fields.
Diameter: ± 30,6 mm
Ref: RIC III 662 (Commodus).
This sestertius commemorates the deification of Marcus Aurelius, emphasizing the Emperor’s divine status after his death. Interesting and historical coin.
Very fine with smooth olive-green patina. Natural coin without any tooling. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request.
Marcus Aurelius: Roman Emperor (161-180 AD). Last of the 'Five Good Emperors' and described as the 'Philosopher King'. His death in 180 AD is considered to mark the end of the 'Pax Romana' (golden period of peace and stability in the Roman Empire).
CONSECRATIO
Design on the reverse of a coin struck in honour of Marcus Aurelius after his death in 180 AD. The type is a funeral pile of four stories, the basement ornamented with festoons; the upper tiers adorned with statues, and at the summit an imperial quadriga. On the obverse the head of that Emperor is represented under the features of an old man, with this legend 'DIVVS Marcus ANTONINVS PIVS'.
The ceremony of consecration was very solemn and imposing. After the body had been clothed in the habiliments of death, it was placed on a bed of ivory. Young men, chosen from the equestrian order, bore it on their shoulders to the pile. The corpse being then introduced into the second layer or story, it was surrounded with aromatics and precious balms. The usual ceremonies being completed, a torch was applied, and the mass was consumed. After this apotheosis, the deceased Emperor or Empress had temples, altars, and priests dedicated to his or her honour, and the same worship was paid to the defunct, as paganism rendered to its gods and goddesses; whilst the Augusti, or Augustae, were thenceforth called DIVI and DIVAE.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/ Timeframe
180 AD
Name of object
Historical coin Divus Marcus Aurelius, last of the 'Five Good Emperors'
Acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Year acquired
2025
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
