Marcus Aurelius Caesar denarius (with Antoninus Pius)

As I've mentioned, I've been looking for a couple of years for a nice example of one of the denarius types with portraits of Antoninus Pius as Augustus on one side and the young Marcus Aurelius as Caesar on the other. Although they're certainly not uncommon, I've had trouble finding one that has two nice portraits but isn't exorbitantly expensive. I finally saw one recently that met those requirements perfectly, on the Akropolis Ancient Coins website of our own @PeteB. I thought that both portraits were beautiful, especially the one of Marcus Aurelius, and knew I had to have it. It arrived today.

I didn't realize until I looked up the coin in various catalogs that RSC II lists no less than 34(!) different varieties of the type at p. 190. Perhaps the number isn't so surprising when one considers that there are two different portraits, that they can vary in terms of whether they face left or right, whether Antoninus Pius is laureate or bareheaded, whether the portraits are heads or busts, whether they're draped or draped and cuirassed, etc., as well as in terms of slight differences in the legends, and in how the different types are combined on any given variety. As it happens, though, mine is one of the more common types.

In looking at my coin (dating to the 140-144 AD period of Marcus Aurelius's first consulship) or any other coin of Marcus as Caesar, keep in mind how young Marcus was when he was named Caesar, and how long he held that position: he was born in 121 AD, was adopted by Antoninus Pius in 138, named Caesar (and COS DES[IG]) in 139, named Consul for the first time in 140, married Faustina II and was named Consul for the second time in 145, and succeeded Antoninus Pius as Augustus in March 161. Thus, he was Caesar for 22 years, along with Lucius Verus. Was anyone ever Caesar for longer?

Here's my coin, for which I am very grateful to @PeteB:

Antoninus Pius with Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, AR Denarius 140-144 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS - P P TR P COS III / Rev. Bare head of young Marcus Aurelius right, beardless, AVRELIVS CAESAR - AVG PII F COS. RIC III Antoninus Pius 417a (p. 78) (1930 ed.); RSC II Antoninus Pius & Marcus Aurelius 15 (p. 190); Sear RCV II 4524 (ill. p. 261) [dated to 141 AD]; BMCRE IV Antoninus Pius 155 (p. 26; ill. Pl 4 No. 11); A. Pangerl, "Vier Jahrzente Portraits des Marcus Aurelius auf römischen Reichsmünzen," 500 Years of Roman Coin Portraits (2d ed. 2017), pp. 318-333 at p. 324 Tabelle 1 (No. 3.04) & p. 326 (No. 4) [dated to 140 AD and classified at p. 439 as “Type 1: round head of a child, no beard, curly hair”]. 19mm, 3.43 gm, 12h. Purchased from Akropolis Ancient Coins, 17 October 2021.




Here is my only other coin of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, dating to his second consulship (ca. 145-146 AD), and discussed more fully in a thread at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/be...er-single-catalog-number.354332/#post-4049208:

Marcus Aurelius Caesar (under Antoninus Pius) AR Denarius, 145-146 AD, Rome Mint. Obv: Bare head right, clean-shaven, AVRELIVS CAE-SVG PII F / Rev: Honos standing left, holding branch and cornucopiae, COS II. RIC III Antoninus Pius 429a, RSC II Marcus Aurelius 110 (p. 202), BMCRE IV Antoninus Pius 594 (p. 85), ERIC II 301, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 1279; A. Pangerl, "Vier Jahrzente Portraits des Marcus Aurelius auf römischen Reichsmünzen," 500 Years of Roman Coin Portraits (2d ed. 2017), pp. 318-333 at p. 324 Tabelle 1 (No. 3.10) & p. 326 No. 10) [dated to 145-146 AD and classified at p. 439 as “Type 3: long head shape of adolescent boy; beginning moustache, increasing but discrete side burns”] (noting at p. 324 that "RIC gibt keinen Barttyp an"). 18.2 mm, 3.3 g.




Here is Table I from the Pangerl article, at p. 324 of the book, listing both of my types, dating the first to 140 AD (the first year of Marcus's first consulship), when he was 19, and the second to 145-146 AD (his second consulship), when he was 24-25. (My first coin is listed on the second line, right side, as Type 0b, No. 3.04 (RIC 417(a)), and my second coin is listed on the fifth line, right side, as Type 0e, No. 3.10 (RIC 429)).



And here are Pangerl's photos of both of my types, at p. 326 of the book. My first coin is Type 4, and my second coin is Type 10. Note that Pangerl's example of Type 10 is beardless like mine, but has longer sideburns and at least the beginnings of a mustache. In the other thread I cited, I posted a number of examples of the type (RIC 429), varying widely in terms of the amount of facial hair Marcus displays.



Please post your own examples of coins of Marcus Aurelius Caesar, with or without Antoninus Pius on the other side. Obviously, even if you don't have the book 500 Years of Roman Coin Portraits, you can use Pangerl's Table 1 as a resource for trying to date any such coins, in addition to whatever other sources you may have.

 

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a beautiful double portrait Donna!

 

An absolutely SUPERB coin. I think that will make it into your top 10 2021.
This denarius type with Pius and young Marcus is on my wish list. I would accept a lower grade but every time I found one in the auctions I participated in there were other coins I found more interesting.

My only Marcus Aurelius as Caesar coin is almost a slug.


Attributing this coin is a tough job but I suspect it is RIC III Antoninus Pius 1355A (as)
Obverse AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F: Head of Marcus Aurelius, bare, right
Reverse TR POT XIIII COS II S C: Virtus, standing right, left foot on helmet, holding spear and parazonium

 

Those are two exceptionally artistic busts. It's the finest example of the type I've seen - nice find!

 

I would certainly LOVE to have a coin of this type as well... led alone in the cherry condition yours is in!
As always, lovely coins Donna

MA is probably in everyone's top ten list. The guy was handsome, brilliant, always planning and ruled during some of the very best times in all of human existence
I just won this denarius of him last weekend:

MARCUS AURELIUS, as Caesar. 139-161 AD. AR Denarius (16mm - 3.35 g). Rome mint. Struck 157/8 AD. AVRELIVS CAES AN-TON AVG PII F, bare head right / TR POT XII COS II, Felicitas standing facing, head turned left, holding caduceus in right hand, scepter in left, left elbow resting on short column. RIC III 475a (Pius); BMCRE 920 (Pius); RSC 727.
And a few other favorites...



Marcus Aurelius
AE Sestertius, Rome, A.D. 153/4, 31 mm, 20,01 g, as Caesar under Antoninus Pius, bare-headed, draped bust right, with light beard, AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG P[II FIL], rev. TR POT [VIII] COS II, S-C, Minerva standing half right, holding reversed spear and owl (BMC 1955)
Jan 2021 Elkowicz

And better throw in "Papa" Pius for good emperors, I mean good measure

Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). AR denarius (18mm, 12h). NGC XF, light scratches. Rome, AD 158/9. ANTONINVS AVG-PIVS P P TR P XXII, laureate head of Antoninus right / VOTA SOL-DEC II-COS IIII, emperor, togate, standing facing, veiled head left, sacrificing from patera in right hand over altar at left, globe at feet, bucranium at base left of altar. RIC III 291b. Purchased from Heritage Auction June 2021 HID09801242017

 

Nice coin with exceptional details @DonnaML !!!

 

A lovely double portrait coin, Donna! Two of ancient Rome's finest emperors .

I have an A-Pi/MA tet:

 

That's a lovely coin, @DonnaML! One for your end of the year top 10 list, indeed.

We need a provincial in this thread.


Marcus Aurelius, Caesar AD 139-161.
Roman Provincial Æ 17.5 mm, 2.88 g, 7 h.
Pisidia, Palaeopolis, shortly after AD 147.
Obv: ΑVΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: ΠΑΛΑΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ, nude Apollo standing facing, head left, quiver at shoulder, holding laurel-branch, resting arm on lyre.
Refs: RPC IV.3 7691 (temporary); SNG BnF 1654; von Aulock Pisidiens 1086-9.

 

@TIF, yours certainly looks Alexandrian, although I don't see a year. Is it Emmett 1406?

 

A very nice example, @DonnaML, and @PeteB provenance a bonus in my view. Here's my version of this coin - one of the other 33 - COS III and bareheaded.
Antoninus Pius, with Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, AD 138-161, AR denarius, Rome mint, struck AD 140
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PI VS P P TR P COS III, bare head of Antoninus Pius right
Rev: AVRELIVS CAES AVG PII F COS, bareheaded and draped bust of Marcus Aurelius right
Ref: RIC III 415c; RSC 21a

 

Yes, Emmett 1406. Not sure I'd posted it before-- couldn't find it when I searched and didn't make the effort to type the attribution from scratch . The date is off flan. Ex Phil Peck ("The Morris Collection").

 

Nice purchase, Donna.
Both portraits are very nice, especially the young Marcus Aurelius.

 

My first ancient coin was a denarius of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, unfortunately stolen in a burglary in 2004. The insurance company paid up and fortunately my best coins escaped the evildoers and are now in a safety deposit box where I rarely see them, which is less fortunate.

Anyway, here are some less attractive Antoninus Pius & Marcus Aurelius coins

This sestertius is probably RIC 1218, though it might just be RIC 1211 or 1212.


An as, which is at least attributable:

Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III - Laureate head right
Rev.: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS S C - Bare head of Marcus Aurelius right
Mint: Rome (140-144 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 9.40g / 30mm / 0h
References:

• RIC 1222
• BMC 1224
• Cohen 41

Acquisition: Moneta Numismatic Services Vcoins 13-Aug-2012


Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III - Bare head right
Rev.: AVRELIVS CAES AVG PII F COS - Draped bust right, bare head
Mint: Rome (140 - 144 )
Wt./Size/Axis: 3.45g / 18.34mm / 6h
References:

• RIC 415a
• RSC 14
• BMC 147

Acquisition: Tintinna Dea Moneta Asta Elettronica 6 #2021 30-Sep-2010


Here's Marcus on his own on a sestertius.

Obv.: M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS P M - Laureate head right
Rev.: TR P XVIII IMP II COS III - Mars standing right, holding spear and with left hand on shield; in field, S - C
Mint: Rome (Dec. 163-Dec 164 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 23.28g / 30mm / 0h
References:

• RIC 861
• Cohen 838

Acquisition: Naville Numismatics Online Auction NN Live Auction 30 #565 2-Apr-2017



ATB,
Aidan.

 

Most PeteB coins are exceptional. I have acquired several since we met over 30 years ago. Unfortunately my coins were not from him. The first has been with me since 1992.


The second is a fourree that came in a large lot from Triton XX. I did not buy it on purpose but the lot contained some 'had to have' Severans. I consider the style of the Aurelius portrait better than that on the solid coin.


Also as Caesar is this denarius (my first coin of Aurelius - pre 1987 when I cataloged my collection up to that time). It came from a brick and morter store in Washington D.C.


My Caesar sestertius is, unfortunately, the same type and date.


The Caesar drachm of Alexandria has a younger portrait from 5 years earlier.

 

That’s a beautiful example Donna, two excellent portraits…I’ve wanted one of this type for a long time.

I don’t have any coins of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, but I can share this dual portrait bronze of Marcus with Lucius Verus.



Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare. 161-169 AD, AE Diassarion (25 mm, 9.08 g), Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to r./ Rev. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to r., RPC online IV.3 9010

 

@DonnaML That is a wonderful denarius, impressive portraits of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Thank you so much for sharing the info from Pangerl.

Don't have a dual coin of them, but this is one of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, which has an unusual break of “CA-ESAR” on the obverse:

AR Denarius, Rome 148 - 149 AD
18 x 19 mm, 3.221g
RIC III Antoninus Pius 444, BMC.683; RSC 618; Sear 4787
Ob.: AVRELIVS CA-ESAR AVG PII F Bare head of Marcus Aurelius, right
Rev.: TR POT III COS II Minerva, helmeted draped, standing r., holding vertical spear in r. hand and resting l. hand on round shield set on ground

​

Since the head is bearded, according to Pangerl (type 12), the date should be 157-158, but numismatics.org dates it to 148-149

 

If you look in Pangerl's table for RIC 444, it actually does say 148-149. The number 12 in the photos refers to something else; there are many more photos I didn't include.

 

Wonderful @DonnaML ! That is a type I hope to add some day for sure. I will pile on with a few big bronzes of these two excellent emperors.


Egypt, Alexandria
Antoninus Pius
AE Drachm, Alexandria mint, struck RY 13 (AD 149/50)
Dia.: 34.2 mm
Wt.: 23.9 g
Obv.: ΑVΤΚΤΑΙΛΑΔΡΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟCEBEVC; Laureate head right
Rev.: TPIKA (date) IϚ (16); Nilus reclining left holding reed and cornucopia from which emerges a pekheis; crocodile below; L in left field
Ref.: Emmett 1621.13
Ex Theodosius Collection



Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180
Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, struck AD 170-171.
Dia.: 32 mm
Wt.: 25.1 g
Obv.: IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV; Laureate head right.
Rev.: PRIMI/DECEN/NALES/COS III/SC within wreath.
Reference: RIC III 1006. Scarce.
Ex Theodosius Collection, Ex Sallent Collection, ex-JAZ Numismatics.

 

Great coin, Donna! I've always liked the A-Pi/MA double headers and am especially jealous of @TIF's Alexandrian version.


ANTONINUS PIUS with MARCUS AURELIUS
AR Denarius. 3.44g, 18.9mm. Rome mint, AD 140 AD. RIC 417a. O: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right. R: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS, bare head right.

My Alexandrian MA as Caesar is dated to Pius's 13th regnal year, when Aurelius would have been 28-29 years old.


MARCUS AURELIUS, as Caesar
Billon Tetradrachm. 12.86g, 24.5mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 13 of Antoninus Pius (AD 149/150). Dattari (Savio) 3185 = Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 169 = RPC Online temp #14367/7 (this coin); Emmett 1868.13 (R4). O: M AVPHΛIC • KAICAP, bareheaded and draped bust right. R: Zeus (‘Jupiter Capitolinus’) enthroned left, holding phiale in his extended right hand and scepter with his left; at his feet, eagle standing left, head right, wings closed; L IΓ (date) across upper field.
Ex Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection (purchased from Dr. Piero Beretta, Milan, April 1972); ex Dr. Piero Beretta Collection; ex Giovanni Dattari Collection

I sort of have a A-Pi/MA provincial double header, but it's in pretty awful condition, and the reverse is apparently actually Herakles, but per RPC with "head assimilated to portrait of lightly bearded - short bearded Marcus Aurelius."

ANTONINUS PIUS
AE24. 9.02g, 23.6mm. ARABIA PETRAEA, Decapolis, Philadelphia, circa AD 138-161. RPC Online Temp #6636; Spijkerman 17. O: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙСΑΡ ΑΝΤωΝΕΙΝΟС, laureate-headed bust of Antoninus Pius wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right; to right., small draped bust of Athena, left. R: ΦΙΛΑΔƐΛΦƐωΝ ΚΟΙΛ СΥΡΙΑС, bust of Herakles (head assimilated to portrait of short-bearded Marcus Aurelius) wearing lion-skin, right.

 

Antoninius Pius &Marcus Aurelius Ar Denarius 139 AD Obv Head of Pius right Laureate. Rv Head of Marcus left bare headed. RIC 411 b 3.76 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen I too have always liked this group of coins and it took me a long time to get this one.