Description
Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus Caesar, as Caesar of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty under Antoninus Pius 138-161 AD, Silver Denarius (3.43g, 18mm), Rome mint 140-144 AD. Obverse: Bare head of Marcus Aurelius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS”. Reverse: Juventas stands facing to the left, wearing stola and holding patera aloft in left hand and dropping incense on candelabrum with right, legend surrounds, “IVVENTAS”. RIC-423a (Pius); RSC-389; Sear-4785. Boldly struck with a portrait in high relief, Marcus Aurelius is portrayed in fine style, beardless and youthful, certainly in the image of the ‘young heir’ to his adoptive father, this notion supported by the goddess of youth, Juventas, on the reverse, deeply toned each side with underlying brilliance, details good Extremely Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Aurēlius Caesar, Augustī piī fīlius, Cōnsulāritās”, with an English translation of “[Marcus] Aurelius Caesar, son of the pious Augustus [Antoninus], honoured with the office of Consul”. The reverse Latin legend reads “iuventās”, translating in English as simply “the youth”.
A similiarly masterful example was sold by Roma Numismatics for the equivalent of AU$1105.2.
