Marcus Aurelius, as Augustus (AD 161-180). AE sestertius (33mm, 5h). NGC VF. Rome, December AD 162-December AD 164. IMP CAES M AVREL-ANTONINVS AVG P M, laureate head of Marcus Aurelius right / TR P XVIII-IMP II COS III, Mars standing right in military dress, spear in right hand, resting left on grounded shield; S-C across fields. RIC III -, cf. 841-853 (obverse legend), 861 reverse type and legend. Note - this coin appears to have been struck from an obverse die employed from December AD 162-autumn AD 163. The reverse legend places this coin during December AD 163-December AD 164. The reverse type was not used with the 1a obverse legend in RIC thus leading one to conclude an obsolete die with useful life was paired with a new reverse die, making what appears to be an unpublished hybrid/mule. No examples in sales archives.

HID09801242017

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