PROUDLY MINTED IN THE USA
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Proudly minted in the USA

The Obstacle Path Coin

11 reviews
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Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

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What you get

Ready to keep.
Ready to give.

Every coin arrives in its own retail blister, protected and ready to collect or give.

  • Individually packaged coin
  • FREE sticker(s) with every order
  • FREE velvet bag for 1 to 5 coins
The Obstacle Path Coin in its retail blister, with free stickers per order and a green velvet bag
The front

What stands in the way becomes the way.

Marcus Aurelius wrote it to himself in his Meditations. The plan can be blocked. Your response never is.

Turn it over

Look closer. It shows the next step.

A skill to build, a method to change, a conversation you have been avoiding. What blocks the road also tells you where to go.

The back

It shapes who you become.

It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential. Not because hardship is good, but because of how you choose to meet it.

Front of The Obstacle Path Coin in Antique Silver: Marcus Aurelius in a toga, What stands in the way becomes the wayBack of The Obstacle Path Coin in Antique Silver: It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential, for what stays in the way shapes who we become
Read the coin

Eight details. One way through.

The front is the emperor and his rule for hard days. The back is what the struggle makes of you.

Detail of the front: What stands in the way becomes the way around the rim
Front

WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY BECOMES THE WAY

Around the rim, from Meditations 5.20. The obstacle does not end the road. It becomes part of it.

Detail of the front: portrait of Marcus Aurelius
Front

Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, shown in his toga. He wrote these notes to himself, not for an audience.

Detail of the front: Marcus Aurelius AD 121 to 180
Front

MARCUS AURELIUS · AD 121 to 180

His name and years beside the portrait. Almost two thousand years later, the advice still works.

Detail of the front: the Stoic flame in a laurel ring
Front

The Stoic flame

A flame inside a laurel ring marked STOIC. Steady light in rough conditions.

Detail of the back: It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential
Back

IT IS IN THE STRUGGLE

The full line: we discover our true potential, for what stays in the way shapes who we become.

Detail of the back: the ornament above the quote
Back

The ornaments

Classical scrollwork above and below the quote, framing it like a carved inscription.

Detail of the back: the ring of small stars
Back

The ring of stars

Small stars around the quote. Through hardship, toward something higher.

Detail of the back: the laurel border with a tied knot
Back

The laurel border

A laurel wreath tied with knots, the Roman sign of a victory earned.

The obstacle path

Sometimes the path changes just as you are ready to move.

A delay, a failed attempt, a problem with no ready answer. Marcus Aurelius had his share of them as emperor, and in his Meditations he reminded himself that the mind can adapt its action and turn an impediment into something it can work with. The plan may be blocked. Your judgment and your character are still free.

An obstacle brings you into contact with the real situation, beyond what you hoped or assumed. It may show a skill you need, information you lack, or a method that has to change. Sometimes it asks for patience, an honest conversation, or the willingness to accept help.

Understand before deciding.Wisdom. Look at what actually happened, not only at what you feared.
Take the difficult step.Courage. The next move is often the one you have been postponing.
Keep proportion, and think of others.Temperance and justice. A measured reaction, and fairness to the people around you.

Pause. Look. Choose the next wise step.

Read more

Accepting that a difficulty exists lets you use your energy more clearly. What depends on you? What can you influence? What do you simply need to take into account? Sometimes continuing means persisting patiently. Sometimes it means changing direction, protecting your limits, or choosing a better goal.

The back of the coin says that it is in the struggle that we discover our true potential. Difficulty does not bring growth on its own. How you work with it, what you learn, and the support you accept are what shape who you become.

Looking back, most of us can name a change of plan that taught us to listen, to prepare better, or to find a solution we could not see before. Kept in your pocket, the coin marks the pause between frustration and response, and brings you back to one practical question: given the situation in front of me, what is the next wise step?

The path may change. You choose how to continue.

The Obstacle Path Coin real size: 1.54 inches (39 mm) in bronze, copper and silver next to a 0.96 inch US quarter

Your next step, 1.54 inches across.

Die-struck in the USA, then chemically aged so the emperor’s portrait, every letter of the quote and the laurel border stand out in relief. Heavy enough that you notice it in your pocket, which is the point.

1.54″39 mm, about a silver dollar
1 ozHeavyweight coin
10 gauge2.7 mm thick
Die-struckMinted in the USA

Antique Bronze and Antique Silver: brass alloy. Antique Copper: solid copper. No two coins are identical; coloring and patina may vary slightly.

Three finishes

Choose your finish.

The Obstacle Path Coin in Antique Bronze, front: Marcus Aurelius in a toga, What stands in the way becomes the way

Antique Bronze

Warm gold, like a Roman coin found in old soil. Our most popular finish.

The Obstacle Path Coin in Antique Silver, front: Marcus Aurelius in a toga, What stands in the way becomes the way

Antique Silver

Cool grey, like marble in the Forum. Silver finish on brass alloy.

The Obstacle Path Coin in Antique Copper, front: Marcus Aurelius in a toga, What stands in the way becomes the way

Antique Copper

Solid copper with a deep patina that keeps changing with time.

Complete the set

Carry it. Display it. Give it.

Orders over $49 ship free in the US.

From our customers

11 reviews, and counting.

“I LOVE this coin. It is a great reminder for me and its size and weight are perfect for keeping it handy, knowing I have it in my pocket, and being able to read what it says.”
Kevin · The Obstacle Path Coin
“This has the high-quality and solid copper material that I was hoping to find. These coins are beautiful, inspiring, and meaningful.”
M.R.K. · The Obstacle Path Coin
“My husband loved this coin. Beautiful work.”
Izzi · The Obstacle Path Coin
Keep exploring

More Stoic coins.

Marcus Aurelius Coin front, emperor's face, Your life is what your thoughts make it, Antique Bronze

Marcus Aurelius

Power over your mind.

 Seneca Coin front, portrait of Seneca, We suffer more often in imagination than in reality, Antique Bronze

Seneca

Less worry, more clarity.

 Stoic Virtues Coin front, the four cardinal virtues, Temperance, Wisdom, Courage, Justice, Antique Bronze

Stoic Virtues

Four virtues, one compass.

 Amor Fati Coin front, flaming heart bound in thorns, ringed by roses and two cherubs, Amor Fati, Antique Copper

Amor Fati

Love your fate.

 Inner Citadel Coin front, philosopher whose head is a fortress, Your inner strength is a mighty fortress, Antique Silver

Inner Citadel

A fortress within.

 Tenacity Coin front, sailing ship in a storm, Nulla tenaci invia est via, Antique Copper

Tenacity

It is over when you quit.
All designs

See all coins

Every design in the collection.
Good to know

A few answers.

Did Marcus Aurelius say “the obstacle is the way”?

Close to it. In Meditations 5.20 he wrote that the impediment to action advances action, and what stands in the way becomes the way. “The obstacle is the way” is a modern summary of that line.

What is on the back of the coin?

The words “It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential, for what stays in the way shapes who we become,” framed by classical ornaments, a ring of small stars and a laurel border.

How is it different from the Marcus Aurelius Coin?

The Marcus Aurelius Coin is about controlling your thoughts. The Obstacle Path Coin is about using the problems in front of you.

What is a good gift for someone facing a setback?

Something they can hold when the plan changes. It suits a failed launch, a hard season of training, a career change or a reader of Meditations. Tick “This is a gift” to add a free printed note.

What are the finishes made of?

Antique Bronze and Antique Silver are brass alloy; the silver finish is not solid silver. Antique Copper is solid copper. All three are die-struck in the USA and chemically aged.

Is there a matching key tag?

Yes. The Obstacle Path Key Tag carries the same design on your keys.

How does free US shipping work?

US shipping is free on orders of $49 or more. A single coin ships for $4.99.

When will my order arrive?

Orders ship in 1 to 2 business days. US delivery takes 3 to 5 business days after dispatch, international 14 to 21 days.

What if I need to return it?

Email us at [email protected] within 30 days of delivery. Undamaged items are refunded for the amount you paid; shipping is not refunded. Items bought with a discount code are final sale. Full shipping and returns policy.

The full details
About this coin

Front: “What stands in the way becomes the way” · Marcus Aurelius, AD 121 to 180. Back: “It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential, for what stays in the way shapes who we become.”

The front shows Marcus Aurelius from the waist up in a Roman toga, with his name and dates beside him, the Stoic flame in a laurel ring, and the quote around the rim. The back sets the second quote at the center, framed by classical ornaments, a ring of small stars and a laurel border.

The front quotes Meditations 5.20, a note the emperor wrote to himself: the impediment to action advances action, and what stands in the way becomes the way. It is the source of the popular phrase “the obstacle is the way.”

How to use it

Reach for it when a problem lands on your desk and your first instinct is to complain. Turn it over and ask one question: given the situation in front of me, what is the next wise step? On good days it reminds you that the problems you solved are what made you stronger.

Who it’s for
  • Founders and managers after a failed launch or a hard quarter
  • Athletes coming back from a loss or an injury
  • Anyone facing a problem they can’t go around
  • Readers of Meditations and anyone curious about Stoicism
  • A friend, partner or colleague heading into a hard stretch
Care instructions

Avoid water, chemicals, and prolonged direct sunlight. Store it in its sleeve or display it in a dry place. If needed, clean gently with a soft, dry cloth. No polishing required.

Original artwork and copyright

The artwork and design of this coin are original creations, fully protected by copyright and part of the exclusive EDC Reminder Coins collection. Any reproduction, imitation, or unauthorized use is prohibited.

Front: “What stands in the way becomes the way” · Marcus Aurelius, AD 121 to 180
Back: “It is in the struggle that we discover our true potential, for what stays in the way shapes who we become.”

At a glance

  • Theme: problems as raw material
  • Good for: a setback at work, a failed launch, a hard season of training, a problem you can't go around
  • Gift for: a manager or founder, readers of Meditations, an athlete coming back from a loss
  • Finishes: Antique Silver (brass alloy), Antique Bronze (brass alloy), Antique Copper (solid copper)
  • Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA

The meaning

The front quotes Meditations 5.20, a note Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself: the impediment to action advances action, and what stands in the way becomes the way. It is the source of the popular phrase the obstacle is the way.

His point was practical. When something blocks your plan, it shows you what to work on next: patience, skill, nerve. The back puts the same idea in one sentence: it is in the struggle that we discover our true potential.

The design

The front shows Marcus Aurelius from the waist up in a Roman toga, with his name and dates beside him and the quote around the rim. The back sets the second quote at the center, framed by fine ornaments and a ring of small stars.

On good days and hard days

  • On good days, it reminds you that the problems you solved are what made you stronger.
  • On hard days, when a problem blocks your way, it turns it into the next step: what stands in the way becomes the way.

Carry it

Reach for it when a problem lands on your desk and your first instinct is to complain. One customer wrote that its size and weight are just right for keeping it handy and reading it often. Another admitted being skeptical of buying online and was won over by the weight and the detail.

Give it

Customers give it to their husbands, and it suits managers and anyone heading into a hard stretch. For a reader of Meditations, pair it with the Marcus Aurelius Coin: one is about your mind, the other about your problems.

Specs

  • Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
  • Thickness: 2.7 mm
  • Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
  • Material: brass alloy (Antique Silver, Antique Bronze) or solid copper (Antique Copper)
  • Made: die struck, minted in the USA
  • Each coin 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 coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.

Questions

Did Marcus Aurelius say “the obstacle is the way”?
Close to it. In Meditations 5.20 he wrote that what stands in the way becomes the way. The shorter phrase is a modern summary of that line.

What is a good gift for a fan of the obstacle is the way?
A coin with the original Marcus Aurelius line they can carry every day. This is the one.

How is it different from the Marcus Aurelius Coin?
The Marcus Aurelius Coin is about controlling your thoughts. The Obstacle Path Coin is about using the problems in front of you.

Other Stoic coins

For keys: The Obstacle Path Key Tag.

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.