ROMAN. Marcus Aurelius. As Augustus, A.D. 161-180. Silver Denarius (3.20g). Rome mint. Struck A.D. 163-164. M ANTONINVS AVG ARMEN P M, laureate head right / TR P XVIII IMP II COS III, Armenia seated left on ground, right hand to mouth, left hand on arms; vexillum and round shield in background; ARMEN in exergue. RIC III 85. A magnificent strike and perfectly centred. Lustrous surfaces overlaid with delicate golden toning. A fantastic example and perhaps the finest known. gEF. This denarius reflects the Armenian settlement in the early years of the joint reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The seated Armenia reverse is blunt propaganda, turning a distant eastern war into a clear, portable message of Roman victory and submission, meant to travel hand to hand across the provinces. For the type see; Heritage Auctions, Auction 61464, lot 25053 (19 Jan 2025), hammered USD 2,200.

Estimate: AUD 1000