Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1487. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $1650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MARCUS AURELIUS. 161-180 AD. PB Medallion (40mm, 42.27 g, 12h). Struck 10-31 December 173 AD. M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVIII, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / IMP VI COS III, VICT. GERM in exergue, Victory in triumphal quadriga left, holding reins in right hand. Unpublished, but for the bronze medallions of this type: Gnecchi 58, pl. 63, 8 = Banti 496 (same dies); MIR 1059-1/36; Grueber 14, pl. XXII, 3; Froehner p. 100. VF, multi-hued gray surfaces, light smoothing. ($1000)

From the John F. Sullivan Collection. Ex Thomas Ollive Mabbott Collection (Part II, Schulman, 27 October 1969), lot 4792.

This reverse type commemorates the victories of Marcus Aurelius over the Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier in the early 170s AD. Unlike many emperors who took credit for the campaigns of their generals, in this campaign Marcus personally led his legions. Aurelius also wrote his famous "Meditations" during this time along the frontier.

Of particular interest is that both of these medallions, though of different metals, were struck from the same dies. In her book on Roman medallions, J. Toynbee addressed the nature of lead medallions: "Lead medallions appear to be ancient 'proofs' [struck] from bronze medallion dies. They ... must be taken into account as possibly affording evidence of lost originals... [Some] are said to have been found together with lead replicas of ... sestertii; such 'proofs' may possibly have been collected in ancient times by persons interested in coins and medallions from the artistic or historical point of view." Although the pieces could be the product of a more modern manufacture, the characteristics of their flans and state of preservation strongly suggest they are ancient. Though a number of these lead pieces are known today, it is very rare that they are offered in conjunction with their official counterparts.