Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1145. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MARCUS AURELIUS. As Caesar, 139-161 AD. Æ Sestertius (24.81 gm, 11h). Struck 145-147 AD. AVRELIVS CAES-AR AVG PII F COS II, bare head right / S C across field, Minerva, wearing aegis, advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand and holding shield in left hand. RIC III 1243a (Antoninus Pius); Strack 962do; Banti 291; BMCRE 1776 (Antoninus Pius); Cohen 576. EF, attractive blue-green patina, with tan undertones. Detailed portrait. ($3000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 64 (24 September 2003), lot 1097.

According to the Historia Augusta, war broke out in the provinces of Mauretania Caesariensis and Tingitana in 145 AD. To quell this disturbance, a detachment of the Legio VI Ferrata was deployed from Judaea as well as cavalry units from Spain, Germany, and Pannonia. After seven years of fighting the Romans successfully pacified the territory.