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LM41742

Marcus Aurelius, Denarius for the vota decennalia solvta.

Regular price £695
Regular price Sale price £695

Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), silver Denarius, Rome, AD 170, IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV, laureate head right, rev. VOTA SOL DECENN COS III, Aurelius standing sacrificing at tripod, 3.22g, 11h (RIC III, 248). Extremely fine, scarce.

An emperor's vota suscepta, promises made to the gods in the anticipation of their reciprocal favours, became vota soluta, once both sides had fulfilled their obligations. Burgess [QUINQUENNIAL VOTA, NC 1988, p.77 ff] discusses how this process took place every five years, with renewed vows undertaken publicly and with great ceremony, at the start of each fifth year. The concept that a leader must have the backing of the gods is common throughout history, from the Mandate of Heaven in the east to the Divine Right of Kings in the west, and is still represented in British numismatics today in the phrase dei gratia rex, King by the Grace of God.

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