Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Gilt Æ Medallion (35mm, 24.24 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 153-154. Near VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 565. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 3 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Gilt Æ Medallion (35mm, 24.24 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 153-154. AVRELIVS CAE SAR AVG PII FIL, bareheaded and draped bust right / Hercules standing facing, head slightly right, wrestling Antaeus, holding and lifting him at his hip; to left, lion’s skin hanging from tree; to right, Africa seated left. Mittag, Römische II – (–/R94); Gnecchi –; Banti –. Dark brown patina, gilt, some smoothing, holed. Near VF. Unique. This reverse type known only from a single example (Mittag II 132 [V57/R94]), there paired with an obverse of Antoninus Pius.

Ex Earl Fitzwilliam’s Wentworth Estates Company Collection (Christie’s, 30 May 1949), lot 354; Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham (1730-1782) Collection.

This medallion was part of the highly important collection of Roman Brass Coins and Medallions originally formed in the mid-eighteenth century and sold by order of The Earl Fitzwilliam’s Wentworth Estates Company. Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham (1730-1782) was an avid coin collector who purchased a number of coins from Abbé Visconti, President of the Society of Antiquaries in Rome, in 1774. Charles Watson-Wentworth served two terms as Prime Minister (1765-1766 and 1782).

A giant of Libya and the son of Poseidon and Gaia (the earth goddess), Antaeus would challenge travelers to wrestling matches, easily killing his opponents and collecting their bones to construct a temple to his father. It was en route to the Garden of Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor that Hercules met Antaeus. A wrestling match ensued, but Hercules was unable to finish his opponent as Antaeus regained his strength each time the hero threw him to the ground. Realizing Antaeus’ strength waned as he left the earth (i.e., the protective realm of his mother), Hercules lifted the giant aloft while crushing him to death.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Two – Lot 309-594 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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