SALVE MARCUS AURELIUS, SON OF ANTONINUS!

MARCUS AURELIUS. ANTONINVS AVG. ARMENIACVS.
REV. P.M.TR.P..XIX.IMP.II.COS.III.

Hail Marcus Aurelius, adoptive son of the great Antoninus Pius... The last one of the "good emperors"...

Nº3 Marcus Aurelius on my collection, but i believe the best one! Hard to find in this condition on Ebay, specially the reverse...

Joannus dixit.

Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus, 121–180, Roman emperor, named originally Marcus Annius Verus. He was a nephew of Faustina, the wife of Antoninus Pius, who adopted him. Marcus married Antoninus' daughter, another Faustina. From youth he was a diligent student and a zealous Stoic. With his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus, as colleague, Marcus succeeded Antoninus in 161. Verus allowed him to dominate, and from 169 Marcus was sole emperor. His reign was spent defending the empire against Parthians, Germans, and Britons. He won a victory over the Marcomanni (167–168), which was commemorated by the Antonine column (Piazza Colonna, Rome), erected by his son and successor, Commodus. Devoted to his duty and humanitarian in his conception of it, Marcus Aurelius was concerned with improving living conditions for the poor, particularly minors. He was always lenient with political criminals and tried to decrease the brutality at gladiatorial shows. He did, however, persecute the Christians, whom he regarded as natural enemies of the empire. His Meditations, available in several translations, expresses with great beauty and humanity a philosophy with a Stoic basis.

source - allrefer.com