Marcus Aurelius Key Tag

Front: “Your life is what your thoughts make it” · Marcus Aurelius, AD 121 to 180
Back: “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

At a glance

• Theme: control what you can, let go of the rest
• Good for: a commute, a stressful job, leadership, staying steady
• Gift for: readers of Meditations, a boss or mentor, a father who leads by example
• Finish: Antique Bronze (brass alloy) with an antique patina, so each one is unique; key ring included
• Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA

The meaning

Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome and wrote Meditations, private notes to himself. The lines on this design are popular wordings of two of its ideas: your life takes the shape of your thoughts, and your mind is the one thing really in your control. It is the most practical idea in Stoicism.

On good days and hard days

• On good days, it reminds you that your thoughts shaped the good things in your life, and can shape more.
• On hard days, when outside events feel out of control, it brings you back to the one thing you do control: your mind. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Why a key tag

Traffic, delays and other people start testing you as soon as you leave home. With the tag on your keys, the reminder is in your hand before any of it begins. It carries the same artwork as the Marcus Aurelius Coin: the emperor's face as if carved from an old marble bust on the front, and the second quote inside a ring of radiating lines on the back.

Give it

It is our go to keychain gift for a reader of Meditations, a new manager or a father who leads by example. Give it with a copy of the book.

Specs

• Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm)
• Thickness: 2.7 mm
• Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
• Material: brass alloy, Antique Bronze finish
• Made: die struck, minted in the USA
• Each key tag is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two key tags look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make yours one of a kind.
• Key ring included

Questions

Did Marcus Aurelius say “you have power over your mind, not outside events”?
It is a popular modern wording of an idea that runs through Meditations: what disturbs us is our judgment, which is within our control.

What is a good gift for a Marcus Aurelius fan?
Something with his words they will carry every day. This key tag goes on their keys; the Marcus Aurelius Coin goes in the pocket.

Is it the same design as the Marcus Aurelius Coin?
Yes, the artwork is the same on both sides. The key tag simply adds a loop so it can hang from your keys.

Will my key tag look exactly like the photos?
Very close, but never identical. Each key tag is antiqued with a special patina that settles differently every time, so small variations in color and shading from the photos are normal. They are what make yours one of a kind.

Want it in your pocket instead? See the Marcus Aurelius Coin.

Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.

Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.