# Aureus (Coin) Portraying Marcus Aurelius

- By: Ancient Roman
- Date: 153-154, issued by Antoninus Pius
- Medium: Gold
- Classification: Coin
- Dimensions: Diam.: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
- Culture: Rome
- Credit line: Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5644)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/9b312820-971d-04ba-361d-4b008eaaaccc/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays a bust of Marcus Aurelius facing right, bareheaded, wearing a cuirass (body armor) and paludamentum (military cloak). The back (reverse) depicts the goddess Roma-Virtus, helmeted, standing left in military garb, holding Victory and parazonium (a dagger).

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0