Very Fine condition. In many ways, the Roman Empire reached its zenith with the reign of Marcus Aurelius, perhaps the closest thing to a true philosopher king ever to rule a great nation. As depicted in the new movie Gladiator, Marcus Aurelius was a devoted, thoughtful and humane ruler. Despite his misfortunes, or perhaps because of how he stoically endured them, Marcus was viewed by later generations as the very Ideal of a sovereign head of state. Unfortunately, Commodus and his supporters thwart this plan.
Gladiator mixes historical fact and dramatic fiction, with a healthy dose of cinematic magic.
Directed by Ridley Scott, it promises to be a summer blockbuster in the mold of Braveheart. If it also introduces moviegoers to the stoic Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the fascinating world he lived in, so much the better. The coinage of Marcus Aurelius is of great interest, since it follows him for 41 years, from his appointment as Caesar in 139 AD, to his accession as Emperor in 161, to his death in 180. Very Fine condition. VF coins will show visible wear and softening of detail, but the portrait, legends and reverse images will be distinct.