Marcus Aurelius AD 161-180. Struck AD 168. Rome
Sestertius Æ

31 mm, 27,27 g

M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head to right / [TR POT XXII] IMP V COS I[II], Aequitas seated to left, holding scales and cornucopiae; S-C across fields.

Very Fine

RIC III 960; BMCRE 1333.

"TR POT XXII IMP" is an abbreviated form of a longer inscription, which provides information about the Roman emperor and their titles. - "TR POT" stands for "Tribunicia Potestas," which means "Tribunician Power." It refers to the emperor's authority derived from the position of a tribune, granting them certain powers to protect the interests of the people and veto legislation. - "XXII" represents the number of times the emperor held the office of "Tribunician Power." In this case, it indicates that the emperor had been granted tribunician power for the 22nd time. - "IMP" stands for "Imperator," a title given to victorious Roman military commanders. Over time, the title became synonymous with the emperor, signifying their supreme authority as the ruler of the Roman Empire. When the inscription "TR POT XXII IMP" appears on a coin, it emphasizes the emperor's continuous authority through multiple tribunician renewals and reinforces their military prowess as Imperator. These inscriptions served as a means for the emperor to assert their legitimacy, power, and continuous connection to the traditions and institutions of Rome.