© The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
© The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Denarius - Marcus Aurelius TR P XVIII COS III; Minerva
| Silver | 3.2 g | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus) (161-180) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 163-164 |
| Value | 1 Denarius |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.2 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#262762 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Minerva, helmeted, draped, standing left, holding up olive-branch in right hand, left hand resting on shield set on ground: vertical spear, point upwards, rests against left arm.
Script: Latin
Lettering: TR P XVIII COS III
Translation:
Tribunicia Potestate Octava Decima, Consul Tertium.
Holder of tribunician power for the 18th time, consul for the third time.
Comment
Mass varies: 3.04–3.39 g;Example of this type:
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Denarius coin featuring Marcus Aurelius and Minerva was minted during a time of great turmoil in the Roman Empire. The year 163 AD saw a devastating plague sweep through the empire, killing an estimated 5 million people, including Marcus Aurelius' own daughter. Despite this, the coinage of this period continued to be minted, with the image of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, on the reverse side, symbolizing the enduring spirit of Rome.
