Marcus Aurelius Cotta (consul 74 BC)

Marcus Aurelius Cotta was a Roman politician and member of the gens Aurelia. He served as consul in 74 BC, alongside Lucius Licinius Lucullus.

Relatively little is known about Cotta's early life and career. He was likely a member of the plebeian branch of the Aurelii Cottae, a family that produced several prominent figures in Roman history.

During his consulship, Cotta's main responsibility seems to have been managing affairs in Italy while his colleague Lucullus took charge of the Third Mithridatic War in the East. Cotta is recorded to have passed a law concerning the courts (lex Aurelia iudiciaria) which altered the composition of juries. Prior to this, juries had been composed solely of senators. Cotta's law aimed to include a broader representation by dividing the jury pool into three classes: senators, equites, and tribuni aerarii (tribunes of the treasury).

After his consulship, Cotta disappears from the historical record. The date and circumstances of his death are unknown.