- Fine Roman Empire AE sestertius coin.
- Struck for Emperor Marcus Aurelius as Caesar at the Rome Mint during the reign of this adopted father Emperor Antoninus Pius.
- Dated COS II = 145 CE.
- Appealing youthful portrait of Marcus without facial hair!
- Approx. 29mm diameter, 5mm (thick flan), 28.37g (full weight), RIC 1242 (rated as scarce).
- Obverse: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS II, bare head facing right.
- Reverse: HILARITAS S C, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm and cornucopia.
- Hilaritas was the Roman goddess of joy and gaiety. She is often depicted on Roman coins as a matron holding a palm branch in her right hand and planting it in the ground. In her left hand, she may hold a cornucopiae, patera, hasta, or flower.