326, Lot: 525. Estimate $150. Sold for $450. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Marius. Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 269. Antoninianus (20mm, 4.05 g, 8h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. 1st emission, mid AD 269. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory advancing right, holding palm branch and wreath. RIC V 18; cf. Gilljam 18 (unlisted dies?); AGK 6a. Good VF, brown patina, minor roughness.

From the Demetrios Armounta Collection.

Marcus Aurelius Marius was an unlikely candidate for emperor. According to the historian Aurelius Victor, he was a blacksmith turned soldier serving under Postumus when that Gallic emperor was murdered by his own men for denying them the sack of Moguntiacum (Mainz) after the fall of the usurper Laelianus. Somehow, in a manner the historians are silent about, Marius was selected as the new emperor. The traditional account goes on to say that Marius himself reigned for only three days, to be slain by a sword of his own manufacture, and was succeeded by Tetricus I. Marius’ coinage seems to belie that tale, being obtainable and remarkably well made for the period.

The first issue of Marius' coinage at Colonia Agrippina is arguably his earliest, as its reverse dies were originally used under Laelianus (see Gilljam).