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Marcus Aurelius Coin

47 reviews
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Finish: Antique Silver
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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
Marcus Aurelius coin in its retail blister with free stickers and a free velvet bag
The front

Your life is what your thoughts make it.

The emperor’s face, carved like an old marble bust and broken in places. Even he was still working on himself.

Turn it over

Between what happens and what you do, there is a judgment.

That judgment is yours. It is the one place where you are always free.

The back

You have power over your mind.

Not over outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Front of the Marcus Aurelius coin: portrait as a fractured marble bust, Your life is what your thoughts make itBack of the Marcus Aurelius coin: You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Read the coin

Eight details. One practice.

The front shows a man still working on himself. The back shows where his strength came from.

Fractured marble portrait on the front of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Front

The broken marble

The portrait is carved like a bust that time has cracked. Even an emperor was a work in progress.

The eye of Marcus Aurelius on the front of the coin
Front

The eye

Calm and watchful. Stoic practice begins with noticing your own thoughts.

The philosopher beard on the front of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Front

The philosopher’s beard

In Rome a full beard was the mark of a philosopher. Marcus kept his on the throne.

Marcus Aurelius AD 121 to 180 lettering on the front of the coin
Front

The name

Marcus Aurelius, AD 121 to 180. Emperor of Rome, student of philosophy all his life.

Your life is what your thoughts make it lettering on the front of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Front

The first line

Your life is what your thoughts make it. Your judgments shape the life you live.

Radiating lines around the rim on the back of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Back

The rays

Lines run out to the rim like pressure, noise and outside events. None of them reach the center.

You have power over your mind, not outside events lettering on the back of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Back

The second line

You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Stippled center field on the back of the Marcus Aurelius coin
Back

The still center

A quiet field inside the ring. The mind you come back to, whatever happens around it.

The meaning · The philosopher king

The philosophy behind this coin.

Marcus Aurelius governed an empire, and he still had to remind himself how to live. In private notes, now known as Meditations, he kept returning to the same questions: how to think clearly, act fairly, meet difficulty and make good use of the time we have.

This coin carries that practice into something you can hold. The broken portrait shows a man still working on himself. Wisdom grows through repetition: noticing an assumption, correcting a judgment, choosing a calmer response.

Four virtues, one direction
WisdomUnderstand before you decide.
JusticeTreat others fairly.
CourageDo what is right when it is hard.
TemperanceKeep proportion in what you want and do.
The two lines on your coin

Your judgment is yours.

A first impression can feel true before we have examined it. A worry can start to sound like a certainty. Stoic practice asks for a pause: what happened, what have I added to it, and what do I actually know?

You have power over your mind.

The words on the back of your coin.
Read more

Both inscriptions are popular wordings of ideas from Meditations, not quotations from one definitive translation. Their value is practical: they bring your attention back to your own judgment, intentions and conduct.

This takes time. Thoughts and feelings arrive uninvited, and some circumstances are truly hard. You can still learn, slowly, how to respond, when to ask for help and what useful step to take next. For Marcus, inner discipline always came with care for others: clear thinking should make us more patient, honest, cooperative and just.

Kept close, the coin marks a small pause before the next choice. What is within my power here? What would wisdom, justice, courage and temperance ask of me?

Return to your judgment. Choose your conduct. Practice the person you want to become.

The man behind the coin

Who was Marcus Aurelius?

Emperor of Rome from AD 161 to 180, and a student of philosophy all his life.

Marcus Aurelius coins in bronze, copper and silver next to a US quarter: 1.54 inches (39 mm), about 1.6 times wider, 1 oz, minted in the USA

Heavy enough to notice in your pocket.

Die-struck in the USA, then chemically aged so the patina looks lived in from day one. It gains character with handling and daily carry.

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.

Antique Bronze

Warm highlights, dark recesses. The most popular finish.

Antique Silver

Cool tones bring the marble portrait into focus. Silver finish on brass alloy.

Antique Copper

Solid copper with an antique patina. Rich warmth that changes with time.

Complete the set

Carry it. Display it. Give it.

With any coin in your cart, every accessory is $5 less and orders over $49 ship free in the US.

From our customers

47 reviews, and counting.

“This was a gift for my boyfriend who loves Marcus Aurelius, and he absolutely loved this!”
Shana Vazquez · Marcus Aurelius Coin
“I bought the silver one which I am pleased to have. I bought the bronze one for a friend who is delighted with it too.”
Juanita · Marcus Aurelius Coin
“It will never leave my pocket.”
Andrew Warner · Marcus Aurelius Coin
Keep exploring

More from the Stoics.

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

Seneca

We suffer more in imagination than in reality.

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

The Obstacle Path

Marcus again: what stands in the way becomes the way.

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

Stoic Virtues

Wisdom, justice, courage, temperance.

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

Inner Citadel

A fortress no outside event can take.

 Memento Mori Coin front, half face half skull with Roman numeral dial, Antique Bronze, held in hand

Memento Mori

Remember you must die. Live like it.
All designs

See all coins

Mix any designs. Every coin is $5 less from two.
Good to know

A few answers.

Did Marcus Aurelius really say these words?

They are popular modern wordings of ideas that run through Meditations, his private notes written in Greek. The idea is his: what disturbs us is our judgment of events, and that judgment is within our control.

Who was Marcus Aurelius?

Roman emperor from AD 161 to 180 and one of the best known Stoic philosophers. His private notes, Meditations, are still read today. Open the manuscript on this page for his story in eight short chapters.

What does the coin mean?

Control what you can, your judgment and your conduct, and let go of the rest. The front says your thoughts shape your life. The back says your strength is in your mind, not in outside events.

Is the silver finish solid silver?

No. The antique silver finish is on brass alloy, and the antique copper finish is solid copper.

How does free US shipping work?

US shipping is free on orders of $49 or more. A single coin ships for $4.99. Add any second item, a coin of any design or an accessory, and every item is $5 less.

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.

Is it a good gift for someone who reads Meditations?

Yes. It is one of our most popular Stoic gifts: for a reader of Meditations, a mentor, a new manager, a father or a graduate. Tick “This is a gift” to add a free printed note.

Will every coin look exactly the same?

No. Each coin is chemically aged, so patina and color vary slightly. No two are identical.

Can I buy the leather sleeve separately?

Yes, for ¥5,700. Bought together with a Marcus Aurelius Coin, it is ¥5,695.

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: “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.”

The Marcus Aurelius Coin is about the one thing you control: your own judgment. The front shows the emperor’s face as if carved from an old marble bust, part of it broken away, with his name and dates beside the first line. The back sets the second line inside a ring of radiating lines.

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 your mind, where your strength is.

How to use it

Carry it in your pocket, keep it on your desk, place it in a display, or hold it before a hard conversation, a decision or a long day. Each touch asks the same question: what is within my power here?

Who it’s for
  • Readers of Meditations and Stoic philosophy
  • Leaders, managers and anyone who works under pressure
  • Fathers, mentors and teachers who lead by example
  • Students and graduates, especially of history and philosophy
  • Overthinkers learning to pause before they react
  • Meaningful gifts for a promotion, a graduation, Father’s Day or a new beginning
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: “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: pressure, leadership, staying steady when things go wrong
  • Gift for: readers of Meditations, a boss or mentor, a father, someone who loves Marcus Aurelius
  • 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

Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome from 161 to 180 and wrote Meditations, private notes to himself, much of it while on military campaigns. The lines on this coin are popular wordings of two ideas from that book: 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. You can't control traffic, markets or other people. You can control how you respond, and that is where your strength is.

The design

The front shows the emperor's face as if carved from an old marble bust, part of it broken away, with his name and dates beside the quote. The back sets the second quote inside a ring of radiating lines.

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.

Carry it

Keep it in your pocket for the moments when something outside your control starts to take over your day. Customers carry the silver one themselves and give the bronze to friends.

Give it

It is our go to gift for anyone who loves Meditations. One customer gave it to their boyfriend, a Marcus Aurelius fan, and wrote that he loved it. It also suits a new manager or a father who leads by example.

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 “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 someone who loves Marcus Aurelius?
A coin with his words they can carry every day. This is one of our most popular Stoic gifts.

Which other Stoic coins are there?
Seneca for worry, Stoic Virtues for character, Memento Mori for time, and The Obstacle Path, which also quotes Marcus Aurelius.

For keys: Marcus Aurelius 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.