Marcus Aurelius Brass Dupondius RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828

Monetary and Denominational Context

The dupondius occupied a standard position within the Augustan monetary framework that still governed Roman base-metal coinage in the middle of the second century AD. Valued at two copper asses, half an orichalcum sestertius, or one-eighth of a silver denarius, it served as an indispensable fractional unit in retail markets, daily food transactions, and small-scale municipal tax payments. Under the High Empire, base-metal coinage was systematically struck under senatorial decree, symbolized on the fields or exergue by the formulaic initials S C (Senatus Consulto). Although the emperor directed fiscal policy, army pay, and large-scale public expenditure, the nominal maintenance of senatorial oversight over aes production remained an important constitutional fixture. From its Augustan inception, the physical specification of the dupondius depended on orichalcum, a golden-hued zinc-copper brass alloy. Because freshly struck orichalcum had an intrinsic metal value approximately twice that of unalloyed red copper, dupondii and asses could be struck at roughly comparable diameters while retaining a twofold difference in face value. Over time, as metallic wear, circulation patina, and fluctuating zinc contents in recycled scrap obscured the visual difference between brass and copper, the Roman mint relied on imperial portrait conventions to clarify denomination. Beginning in Nero's monetary reforms and firmly codified by the Flavian era, the radiate crown became the definitive obverse attribute of the dupondius, while the as typically bore a laureate head or bare bust. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 adheres strictly to this denominational iconography, displaying a radiate Marcus Aurelius to ensure instant recognition across the cash economy.

Production Standards and Minting

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 was struck exclusively at the primary imperial mint located in Rome. During the Antonine epoch, the Rome mint operated as a centralized, highly structured workshop divided into multiple officinae, which managed the massive output of gold, silver, and aes coinage necessary to supply the capital, regional treasuries, and frontier military garrisons. Base-metal blanks for dupondii were prepared by casting or cutting from cast strips of orichalcum, followed by careful annealing before being brought to the anvil. Although weight standards for mid-second-century dupondii were subject to minor operational variances, contemporary struck specimens generally fall within a median range of 11.0 to 14.0 grams, with typical flan diameters ranging from 25 to 28 millimeters. Die engraving for this issue exemplifies the refined stylistic craftsmanship characteristic of Antonine die-cutters working in the early 160s AD. Die preparation required skilled celators who cut the portraits, reverse figures, and letter punches directly into hand-forged iron dies in intaglio. The dies were subjected to high mechanical pressure during manual striking, which took place using an upper hammer die and a lower anvil die. Surviving dupondii from this series exhibit typical ancient striking traits, including minor variations in flan thickness, occasional off-center impressions, and subtle die cracks resulting from intense operational stress at the mint.

Obverse Iconography and Regalia

The obverse of RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 features a right-facing portrait of Marcus Aurelius crowned with the radiate solar diadem. Depicted in early maturity, the emperor appears with a fully developed Antonine beard, styled with thick, rounded curls framing his jawline and forehead. This realistic yet monumental style deliberately mirrors the artistic conventions established by Antoninus Pius, projecting gravitas, philosophical composure, and imperial authority. His facial features are carefully modeled, with deep-set eyes, a prominent bridge to the nose, and a disciplined expression reflecting his stoic persona. The radiate crown serves both a practical and a theological purpose. Beyond its numismatic role as a denomination marker separating dupondii from asses, the crown evoked Sol, the sun god, symbolizing cosmic radiance, imperial vigilance, and divine favor. The rendering of the spikes varies slightly across known dies, exhibiting between eight and ten distinct rays projecting outwards from a decorated circular band resting upon the emperor's curling hair. The bust terminates cleanly at the neck truncation, remaining undraped and unarmored in accordance with civic portraiture preferences for early Rome-mint aes of this period.

Reverse Iconography and Concord Augustor

The reverse iconography of RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 offers one of the most explicit ideological statements of the Antonine principate. Standing in full civic dress, Marcus Aurelius and his adopted brother Lucius Verus face one another. Marcus, positioned on the left and facing right, clasps the right hand of Lucius Verus, who stands on the right and faces left. In his left hand, Marcus holds a rolled papyrus scroll (rotulus or volumen), symbolizing the shared administrative duties, constitutional laws, and legislative authority of the joint principate. The co-emperors are depicted in identical heavy Roman togae, drapery cascading diagonally across their bodies to underscore their shared civic status rather than martial dominance. This central motif represents the solemn gesture of dextrarum iunctio, the ritual joining of right hands traditionally associated with marriage, formal treaties, and unbreakable fidelity. In imperial political theology, applying this gesture between two living Augusti visualized concordia augustorum, the mutual goodwill, equality, and collegiality underpinning the joint rule. Upon the death of Antoninus Pius on March 7, AD 161, Marcus Aurelius famously insisted that the Senate elevate Lucius Verus to equal Augustan rank, making this the first formal co-principate in Roman history. The reverse die translates this unprecedented political reality into an immediately recognizable symbol of internal stability and peaceful dynastic succession.

Epigraphy and Titulature

The obverse inscription reads IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M, executed in formal capitalis monumentalis lettering curving clockwise along the outer rim. The legend opens with the supreme military salutation Imperator (IMP), followed by the dynastic surname Caesar (CAES). Marcus Aurelius's personal and adoptive nomenclature follows as M AVREL ANTONINVS, formally identifying him with the deified Antoninus Pius. It concludes with Augustus (AVG) and the supreme religious title Pontifex Maximus (P M). Notably, Marcus assumed the title of supreme pontiff exclusively, as Roman constitutional custom did not permit two living chief priests, even within an otherwise strictly equal co-principate. The reverse inscription is divided between the outer circular field and the exergue or lower field, reading CONCORD AVGVSTOR TR P XVI COS III S C. The opening phrase CONCORD AVGVSTOR (Concordia Augustorum) directly interprets the figurative scene, using the genitive plural to proclaim the harmonious accord of the two Augusti. The imperial dating formulas record Marcus's sixteenth annual holding of the tribunician power (TR P XVI) and his third consulship (COS III), an office entered on January 1, AD 161. The flanking letters S C stand for Senatus Consulto, ratifying the senatorial authority under which base-metal coins were officially struck.

Typology and Chronological Placement

Within the typology established by Harold Mattingly and Edward A. Sydenham in The Roman Imperial Coinage, RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 represents a clearly defined type issued during the opening months of Marcus Aurelius's reign. The tribunician designation TR P XVI commenced in December AD 161 and terminated in December AD 162. Given that Antoninus Pius died in March AD 161, the Concord Augustor series was initiated immediately in spring AD 161 under Marcus's TR P XV and continued smoothly into TR P XVI during AD 162 to sustain the political legitimization campaign. The type belongs to a synchronized multi-denomination issue. Companion types bearing the identical Concord Augustor scene and legend were simultaneously struck in gold (aurei), silver (denarii), and base metal (sestertii and asses), struck for both Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. In RIC volume III, Marcus's radiate dupondius with TR P XVI is catalogued under number 828, while the corresponding laureate as falls under separate entries such as RIC 827 or 830, and the parallel sestertius under RIC 826. Die studies by Wolfgang Szaivert demonstrate that these dies were coordinated across officinae, producing consistent stylistic representations of the co-emperors across denominations during this inaugural phase.

Circulation and Archaeological Context

Once released from the mint of Rome, dupondii of RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828 circulated widely throughout the western and central provinces of the Roman Empire. Archaeological excavation and stray metal finds demonstrate that early Antonine aes coins traveled along established military and commercial networks into the provinces of Britannia, Gallia, the Germanies, Hispania, and the Danubian frontier. While sestertii predominated in regional hoards because of their larger purchasing power and higher brass value, dupondii and asses formed the true transactional core of urban and military camp markets. Mid-second-century base-metal coinage enjoyed exceptionally long operational lifespans. Hoard evidence across northwestern Europe reveals that dupondii struck under Marcus Aurelius frequently remained in active commercial circulation well into the third century AD, occasionally appearing in hoards deposited during the Severan period and the Crisis of the Third Century. By the time these pieces were finally withdrawn or buried, long circulation often smoothed the relief, though the radiate crown typically remained legible enough to distinguish the piece from worn asses. The extensive secondary wear and varied patination patterns seen across recovered specimens testify to decades of everyday use in the imperial market economy.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. IV: Antoninus Pius to Severus. pp. 524-526
2. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. III: Antoninus Pius to Commodus. pp. 280-282
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 828. ric.3.m_aur.828
4. Die Münzprägung des Kaisers Marcus Aurelius nebst Lucius Verus für die Prägestätte Rom (MIR 18). Breslau/Wien, 1980