Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-161)

This type records a significant Roman military victory in Britain. The military campaign mentioned was most probably the suppression of  a revolt in the north, in whose aftermath the Antonine Wall was constructed as the northern boundary of the province. This issue is only the second occasion upon which the allegorical figure of Britannia was used, the first being Hadrian's.

R5073 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Copper As, 10.12g., Rome mint, A.D. 145-161, laureate head of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TRP COS IIII, rev., PAX AVG, S C, Pax standing left, holding cornucopiae  and setting fire to arms with torch left, (RIC822) almost extremely fine, pleasant dark green patina. $295

R5071 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Copper Dupondius, 15.35g., Rome mint, A.D. 142, laureate head of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, rev., ANNONA AVG, S C, Annona standing right between modius and prow, (RCV 4264; RIC 656) good very fine pleasant chocolate patina. $295

R3052 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Copper as, 11.28g., Rome mint, 149-150 A.D. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII, bust laureate right, with fold of cloak or more likely Medusa head of aegis on front shoulder, rev., MVNIFICENTIA AVG around, COS IIII / S C in two lines in exergue, elephant walking right, with netlike pattern on body, legs, and ear, representing its creased skin, (RIC 862a), some roughness, otherwise very fine, an interesting and attractive type. $395  SOLD

Following the suppression of a serious revolt in northern Britain early in his reign, Antoninus Pius won his second imperatorial acclamation.  At this point it was decided to push the frontier further north from the line of Hadrian’s Wall; the Antonine Wall a turf and timber construction was built across the narrower Forth-Clyde isthmus, bringing the unruly tribes of Lowland Scotland within the borders of the empire.

R2093 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Silver Denarius, 3.40g., Rome mint, A.D. 158-159, laureate head of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII, rev., VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC II, COS IIII in exergue, Pius standing left over altar, (RIC 156b), good very fine. $145

R2105 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Silver Denarius, 3.01g., Rome mint, A.D. 152-153,, laureate bust of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XIIII, rev., COS IIII, naked Genius or Bonus Eventus standing left, holding patera and corn ears, (RCV 4069; RIC 196), good very  fine, toned. $125 SOLD

R2074 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), as Caesar, Æ Sestertius, 19.13g., Rome mint, bare head right, IMP T AELIVS CAESAR ANTONINVS,  rev., Pietas standing left, dropping incense onto lighted and garlanded altar, and holding incense box, TRIB POT COS DES II, S C across field, PIETAS in the exergue, (RIC 1093 (Hadrian)), fine, scarce. $95 SOLD

R1354 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Silver Denarius, 2.71g., Rome mint, A.D. 145-161,, laureate head of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P, rev., COS III, winged thunderbolt on draped seat (RIC 137), very fine. $75

R1179 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Copper As, 8.75g., Rome mint, A.D. 140-144, laureate head of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P, rev., TR POT COS IIII, S C, Clementia standing left, head left, holding patera and sceptre, (RIC 699a) almost extremely fine pleasant chocolate patina. $325

R273 - Antoninus Pius (138-161), Silver Denarius, Rome mint, A.D. 145-161, laureate bust of Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P, rev., Liberalitas standing left holding vexillum and cornucopiae, TR POT COS IIII (RIC 151), extremely fine. $195 SOLD