Marcus Aurelius began appearing on imperial coinage in 139 CE alongside his adoptive father Emperor Antoninus Pius. Commencing with his first consulship in 140, he then appears alone. The coinage of Marcus is relatively vague in character and oscillates between representations of periods of war and peace. Peaceful eras correspond to images and inscriptions of Concordia, Pietas, and Providentia, while periods of war display Mars, Minerva, and Virtus. Little is known historically about his wife Faustina II, but on coinage she is depicted as the earthly counterpart of Ceres, Diana, Juno, and Venus. Faustina gave birth to numerous children, as seen on coinage spanning the years of Marcus’ rise to power, but few survived past infancy. Their emphasis on marital concord and reproduction are apparent in the reverse image on this coin. Christina Dickerson 2011.