Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161.As (Copper, 27mm, 10.67 g 12), Rome, 140. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P Laureate and draped bust of Antoninus Pius to right. TR POT COS III / S C Roma, draped and helmeted, seated right on a high-backed throne; holding spear with points at both ends with her left hand and propping her head on her right; she looks slightly down to the right. BMC 1373 var. Cohen 894. Hill 268. RIC 697b. Very rare. A beautiful coin with a fine portrait and an exceptionally lovely reverse. A sharply struck, very well preserved coin with a fine dark green patina, good extremely fine. From a European private collection. This is an unusually fine As of Antoninus Pius, which may have been struck in honor of the forthcoming 900th anniversary of the foundation of Rome. Roma appears on the reverse in a most artistic and delicate way: she seems pensive as she sits, wearing flowing robes, on a simple throne, but with her head slightly bent forward. The only signs of her military nature are the crested helmet she wears and the spear she holds. Somewhat curiously, her spear is pointed at both ends. The engraver who was responsible for this die was particularly skillful. Latest purchase info@petitioncrown.com www.petitioncrown.com
Wow => that is a gorgeous coin!! (congrats) ... and yes, it is a lovely rendition of ROMA (she looks kinda hot!!)
Gorgeous coin, congratulations on its acquisition! Roma seated appears in copious permutations throughout the Imperial Coinage, and she undoubtedly influenced the various renditions of Britannia. It might make an interesting study to compare the two.
Hi RG thanks for showing, interested in all similar Pius/Roma, very difficult to find. Did you see others on the internet or in collections?
Ty I've seen similar coins on the Forvm galleries http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php and a few being sold on vcoins.com Heres the ref. for mine Antoninus Pius AE Sestertius. 157-158 AD. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, laureate head right / TR POT XXI COS IIII, S-C in ex, Roma seated left on cuirass, foot on helmet, holding Victory and parazonium; shield behind. RIC III 979a Strack 1147 Banti 490 BMC 2036
