M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARM TR P XXXI, radiate head right / IMP VIII COS III P P, trophy, Sarmatian woman and man sitting at its base, DE SARM below. 24mm, 8.68 grams. Rome mint, minted 176-177 CE. RIC 1186. 

Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher who ruled from 161 to 180 CE, first jointly with Lucius Verus and later alone. Known as the “philosopher emperor,” he combined a deep commitment to duty with the practical demands of governing an empire facing constant military pressure, especially along the Danube frontier. His reign saw the Marcomannic Wars, a devastating plague, and ongoing financial strain, yet he remained admired for his disciplined character and humane leadership. His personal reflections, preserved in the Meditations, offer a rare, introspective view of an ancient ruler’s inner life. Marcus died in 180 CE at the front, leaving the empire to his son Commodus and a legacy of wisdom, resilience, and moral integrity.