Description
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, as Caesar of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty under Antoninus Pius 139-161 AD, Gold Aureus (6.75g, 19.5mm), Rome mint 140-144 AD. Obverse: Bare head of Marcus Aurelius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS”. Reverse: Assortment of priestly implements of the augurate and pontificate; from left to right: knife, sprinkler, jug, lituus and simpulum, legend surrounds above, “PIETAS · AVG”. Sear-4766; RIC-424a; BMCRE-276. An attractive piece, small graze to his cheek, otherwise an imposing Aureus of a young Marcus Aurelius early in his reign as Caesar, near Extremely Fine.
Ex. Spink & Son Ltd., Auction 125, 1998.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Aurelius, Caesar, Augusti Pii Filius, Consul”, translating to ‘(Marcus) Aurelius, Caesar, son of the Augustus, the Emperor, (Antoninus) Pius, Consul in his first term’; being named as Consul in his first term dates this piece to 140-144 AD. The reverse Latin legend reads “Pietas Augusti”, translating to ‘Piety of the Augustus’; the Emperor’s piety all the more represented by the priestly emblems of the augurate and pontificate present on the reverse.