Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 28.84 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 161. IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M, bareheaded bust right, wearing scale cuirass, seen from behind / CONCORD AVGVSTOR TR P XV, Marcus Aurelius standing right, holding
volumen, and Lucius Verus standing left, vis-à-vis, both togate, clasping right hands, COS III in exergue, S - C across fields. RIC III 796; MIR 18, 16-6/15; Banti 24; BMCRE 847 var. (bust type). EF, mottled green-earthen patina. With a fine military bust of exemplary style.
The scale armor worn by Marcus Aurelius in this remarkable sestertius is notable. Normally viewed as a peaceful philosopher-ruler, Marcus was forced to spend the majority of his reign leading armies at the frontiers of the Empire, which were under nearly continuous assault from a coalition of barbarian tribes. The epoch witnessed many changes in Roman armor, equipment and tactics to deal with the incursions, including the adoption of more utilitarian forms of protection than the ceremonial types worn by rulers on previous coins
