MARCUS AURELIUS (161-180)

"As emperor, I am first in Rome; as a man, I am equal to all men in the world. (Meditations)" Primi Decennales – a denarius minted to commemorate the first ten years of reign. This inscription first appears, either in full or abbreviated, on coins of Antoninus Pius and subsequently on those of his successors, Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. These decennials, like the vota, whether suscepta or soluta, were undoubtedly celebrated for the health and safety of the reigning emperor.

First recorded during the reign of the Antonines, they later became a recurring theme in numismatic inscriptions, especially during the era of the Constantinian dynasty.

Denomination: Denarius, Ag