154 Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius Caesar VF Denarius Minerva Rare Portrait (25011501R)

Very Fine Roman Empire silver denarius coin. Struck for Caesar Marcus Aurelius at the Rome Mint during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. Dated TR POT VIIII COS II = 154 to 155 CE. RIC 463b, RSC 677, 3.37g, approx 17mm. Caesar was used by emperors to designate their heirs, who would later adopt the title of Augustus when they became emperor. The title originated from the cognomen of Julius Caesar. Rare youthful draped portrait (with modest facial hair). Obverse: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII FIL, draped bare head right. Reverse: TR POT VIIII COS II, Minerva helmeted standing left, holding owl and resting left hand on shield, against left arm a spear. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, commerce, handicrafts, poetry, the arts in general, and later, war. Considered the daughter of Jupiter, from whose head she was born, the goddess was first worshipped in Rome as one of the Capitoline Triad along with Jupiter and Juno.