Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Æ Medallion (40mm, 46.34 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 148-149. Near VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 245. Estimated: $ 3 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 6 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Æ Medallion (40mm, 46.34 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 148-149. Bareheaded and draped bust left / Apollo seated to front on raised dais, loins and knees draped, feet resting on footstool, his left hand plucking strings of a lyre set on a column, griffin at base; his right hand holding a plectrum; to his right (viewer’s left), a Delphic tripod entwined with a serpent. Mittag, Römische II 237 (V113/R175); Gnechhi vol. II, p. 35, 68 and plate 65, 4 (same dies); Banti 536. Dark green-brown and red patina, some roughness. Near VF. Very rare and impressive, the reverse showing more detail than the example plated in Gnecchi.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Triton XXV – Session 5 (25 January 2022), lot 5389.

The reverse likely depicts a cult statue located in the cella of the Temple of Apollo built by Augustus on Palatine Hill, on a spot struck by lightning and therefore considered sacred to the god. The temple was held to be the most magnificent of his architectural creations, although very little of it remains today.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:21:20 ET.



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