30 mm. Sestertius. 27.00 grams. 6:00 die axis.

Marcus Aurelius, as Augustus 161-180. 
M ANTONINVS AVG TRP XXVII, his draped and cuirassed bust right, seen slightly from the rear.  TRP XXVII makesit struck Dec.172 - Dec. 173 AD.
RELIG AVG in exergue. IMP VI COS III. Temple with four caryatids, Mercury on base within holding patera and purse. In semicircular pediment a (tiny) tortise, cock, ram, star, winged cadeuceus, and purse (an attribute of Mercury).

RIC 1074. BMC 1441. Sear II 4996. 

The Rain Miracle. Accoding to Dio Cassius, at one battle against the Quadi in 172 during the Danubian campaigns the Roman Legion XII was surrounded and without water. The Quadi stopped fighting, expecting to wait out Romans on the very hot day. An Egyptian priest prayed to Mercury for a miracle, which promptly arrived in the form of rainstorm which brought water for the Romans and their horses to drink. When the Quadi resumed their attacks, lightning and hail broke up the assault while leaving the Romans untouched. A later Byzantine author says it was really the prayers of Christians that brought about the miracle. Legion XII then became known as "The thundering legion" (Fulminata). 

Birley, Septimius Severus, page 66, says the rain miracle appears the coinage and in the sixteenth scene of the Aurelian column.

[Image from Wikipedia] See the rain personified in the upper right as if he had outstreached arms of rain.

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