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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,599 |
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Valued Member
United States
201 Posts |
Hey Guys, I think the top coin is a Limes Denarius of Marcus Aurelius, but I can't figure out who the bottom guy is. I believe the reverse is sacrificial items; jug (or urn), knife etc. but I cannot make out the bust. Any help? Thanks!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
The second one is Marcus Aurelius as Caesar under Antoninus Pius.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3440 Posts |
Young Marcus as Caesar under Antoninus Pius.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3440 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
201 Posts |
Holy crap, did his nose grow in adolescence? lol
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3440 Posts |
Marcus changed appearance dramatically from a rather handsome young man to a 'shell shocked' philosopher with a scraggly beard.
The better part of twenty years living in army camps campaigning against German tribes took a heavy toll on the old boy.
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Valued Member
United States
201 Posts |
Now that's what I call leadership. I couldn't fathom a 'leader' today actually sacrificing all that for his country.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I've always been perplexed by the shift in portraiture in Aurelius' coins. Celatores of the time were obviously very skilled, but nearly all denarii of Aurelius show a rather dull, lifeless portrait, while the Caesar portraits actually look like a real person. I would be tempted to say this was a deliberate choice, but his statues seem pretty lifelike: .jpg/1280px-Co-emperors_Marcus_Aurelius_and_Lucius_Verus%2C_British_Museum_(23455313842).jpg) Edited by Finn235
10/20/2017 2:24 pm
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Valued Member
United States
201 Posts |
Awesome photo. His eyes though.. even in that statue look like he's seen heck. I guess after 20 years of battling, he probably had.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Not only battles; he lost like a dozen infants to illness, too. I recall a quote take from his Meditations: (paraphrased) "Ask not 'How will I save my little child?' but rather, seek to not fear losing them."
And another: "Kiss your child good-night, then tell yourself 'He may be dead in the morning.'"
My absolute favorite Faustina II coins are those that celebrate the birth of new royal children. It must have been extraordinarily hard on her, but having a husband just shrug it off must have been devastating.
Edited by Finn235
10/20/2017 3:50 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3440 Posts |
I believe you are projecting modern ideas of fatherhood onto a philosopher of the Stoic school.
The Stoics believed in self control and acceptance of things over which they had no control. Patrician fathers in ancient Rome were supposed to be the great rock which endured all that nature hurled at it.
Marcus was very human but he carried the weight of his duties very seriously. Infants died early and often.
Even in colonial America the life expectancy of the young was precarious and a quick tour of the cemetery in the center of Boston shows an alarming number of women aged 18. Most died while giving birth.
We are very very fortunate not to live in the "good old days".
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,599 |
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Posted 10/20/2017 1:52 pm
