There is no place like home A sestertius of Antoninus Pius

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Terence Cheesman, Apr 7, 2020.

  1. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    In this age of virtual lock down it is somewhat appropriate to post a sestertius of the ultimate Roman homebody Antoninus Pius. Unlike his rather restless predecessor Hadrian, Pius seems to have never left Italy. Back in February I purchased this coin at an auction. That seems so long ago. The reverse of this coin is rather interesting. It depicts Italia seated on a starry globe. On my coin she is depicted with a turreted crown. Okay Sestertius of Antoninus Pius. 141-143 A.D. RIC 746a Obv. Head right laureate Rv. Italia seated left. 27.14 grms 34 mm Photo by W. Hansen piuss17.jpg Feel free to post any coin of Pius or Hadrian or anything you are working on because you are stuck at home.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2020
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  3. Paul M.

    Paul M. Well-Known Member

    0BD19B6A-09C9-46D4-94B6-88EA0A1BEA14.png
    I don’t have the full attribution handy, but this denarius is of him as augustus, without the name “Pius.” It dates to July 138 AD, before the consecration of Hadrian.
     
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  4. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    That simply and frankly is a fantastic sestertius! Wow!

    I can completely relate to the feeling of being stuck at home. To fight cabin fever, I've started to go running late at night when there is nobody on the streets, and am doing an intensive online daily language course to finally get fluent in Spanish. That as well as reading a lot and recataloguing my coin collection help a little bit. It still is a frustrating situation.

    All my Antonini Pii pale in comparison to yours. The second one shows interesting ancient damage, though – because who the heck would not like Antoninus Pius?!

    Rom – Antoninus Pius (als Caesar), Denar, .png
    Antoninus Pius (as Caesar), Roman Empire, AR denarius, 138 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS; head of Antoninus Pius, bare, r. Rev: TRIB POT COS; Pietas, veiled, draped, standing l., holding up r. hand over altar and l. hand on side. 18 mm, 3.54g. Ref: RIC II Hadrian 452A.

    Rom – Antoninus Pius, denarius, Altar, antike Beschädigungen.png
    Antoninus Pius, Roman Empire, denarius, 145–161 AD, Rome mint. Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP; laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. (deliberately defaced in antiquity). Rev: COS IIII; thunderbolt on altar. 16.5mm, 4.02g. RIC III Antoninus Pius 137.

    Rom – Antoninus Pius, Denar, Annona mit Bug.png
    Antoninus Pius, Roman Empire, denarius, 155–156 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [ANTO]NINVS AVG PIVS PP [IMP II], head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, r. Rev: TR POT XIX [CO]S III, Annona standing l., holding corn ears, resting l. hand on modius standing on prow with rudder leaning on it. 18mm, 3.27g. Ref: RIC III Antoninus Pius 249.
     
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  5. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Beautiful, just beautiful !

    Q
     
  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Wow, that's an absolutely gorgeous coin!

    I only have the Italia reverse on a denarius.

    Antoninus Pius - Denarius Italia 2504.jpg ANTONINUS PIUS
    AR Denarius. 2.87g, 17.5mm. Rome mint, AD 140-143. RIC 98c; Cohen 469. O: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P, laureate head right. R: TR POT COS III, Italia, wearing turreted crown, holding cornucopiae and sceptre, seated left on globe; ITALIA in exergue.
    Ex Prof. Dr. Hildebrecht Hommel Collection, with old collection tag noting acquisition from Cahn, ex List 206 (11 Jan 1961), lot 322
     
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  7. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    That is an absolute beautiful specimen of this highly desirable type @Terence Cheesman! Congratulations on the acquistion.

    I'll throw in one of mine sestertius of AP. Not the Italia type.
    29.7.png
    This is my favorite coin of AP. It was struck relatively late in his reign, and on the portrait AP looks weary, as if the responsibility of the rule of the empire really has hit him.
    29.4.png
     
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  8. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    That's a beautiful example, and wonderfully rendered.
     
  9. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Wow, @Terence Cheesman ! That is one museum-quality acquisition!

    The Antonine period was a time of prosperity and stability and coins circulated for decades. Antonine bronzes are typically well-worn, reflecting their service. Here are some typical Antonininus Pius sestertii:

    [​IMG]
    Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.11 g, 29.4 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 142.
    Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right.
    Rev: ANNONA AVG S C, Annona standing right, between modius and prow, holding corn ears and out-turned cornucopiae.
    Refs: RIC 597; BMCRE 1228; Cohen 37; RCV 4147; UCR 502.

    Antoninus Pius TEMPORVM FELICITAS Sestertius.jpg
    Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161
    Roman orichalcum sestertius; 22.64 gm, 31.5 mm, 12 h
    Rome, AD 149
    Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder
    Rev: TEMPORVM FELICITAS, COS IIII in exergue, S C across field, crossed cornucopiae from which a grape bunch flanked by two grain ears hang, surmounted by confronted busts of two children
    Refs: RIC 857; BMCRE 1827-29; Cohen 813; RCV 4236; Strack 1026; Banti 411.
     
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  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  12. bcuda

    bcuda El Ibérico loco

    s-l50017piusa.jpg
    Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD)
    AE Sestertius Struck 143 AD
    Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP
    TRP COS III, laureate head
    right
    Rev: IMPERATOR II, Fides
    standing front, looking right,
    holding corn ears and dish of
    fruit. S-C across fields.
    26.08 grams. RIC III 716;
    Cohen 426; BMCRE 1608; Sear 4181.
     
  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Gorgeous coin, @Terence Cheesman ... you do not see too many Italias...

    upload_2020-4-7_9-22-27.png
    RI Antoninus Pius 138-161 BCE AR Denarius Issue 6 as Augustus IMP T AEL CAES HADR ANTONINVS - AVG PIVS P M TR P COS DES II Pietas
    Ex: @Valentinian
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
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  14. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Stunning coin! There's nothing quite like a big, chunky second century sestertius with full details and a smooth patina.

    This was not my first sestertius, but it is the one that made me fall in love with the denomination

    Antoninus Pius Sestertius Salus RIC 635.jpg

    And a recent purchase from CNG, depicting two young members of the imperial family who I do not think are depicted anywhere else on imperial coinage
    Pius sestertius temporvm felicitas lucilla and aelius.jpg
     
  15. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    However did such a beautiful coin ever survive the ravages of 1800 years to come down to us in the condition it has?
     
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  16. Gary R. Wilson

    Gary R. Wilson ODERINT, DUM METUANT — CALIGULA

    imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-AKqZfSqOcaxKsm0h-Antoninus_Pius-removebg-preview.png

    Antoninus Pius (Augustus)
    Coin: Brass Sestertius
    ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII - Laureate head right
    VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC III, COS IIII in ex, - Antoninus Pius, standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod, left arm at side
    Exergue: COSIIII


    Mint: Rome (158-159 AD)
    Wt./Size/Axis: 25.09g / 31mm / 12h
    References:
    RIC 1010
    Cohen 1124
    BMC 2068
    Sear 4262
    Acquisition/Sale: mtmstores Ebay $0.00 11/18
    Notes: Nov 8, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection



    Antoninus_Pius_and_Marcus_Aurelius__as_Caesar__AR_Denarius-removebg-preview.png

    Antoninus Pius (Augustus)
    Coin: Silver Denarius
    ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P, - Bare head of Pius right.
    AVRELIVS CAES AVG PII COS DES - Bare head of Aurelius left.
    Mint: Rome (139 AD)
    Wt./Size/Axis: 3.12g / 18mm / 7h
    References:
    RIC III 411b (Pius)
    RSC 4
    Provenances:
    Ex Roma Numismatics E-LIVE Auction 2, 30 August 2018, lot 652.
    Acquisition/Sale: Roma Numismatics Internet E-Sale 54 #746 $0.00 02/19
    Notes: Feb 28, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
     
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  17. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Great A. Pius Sestertius Terence! Both the portrait and Italia are in stunning style.

    Here is my A. Pius denarius.
    6D4C0C5D-4049-4139-865E-13FC4E4B8DC2.jpeg
     
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  18. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Wow what a great coin, and a really nice photograph of it too.

    John
     
  19. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    My two Antoninus Pius denarii:

    Antoninus Pius AR Denarius, 149 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII / Rev. Annona standing left holding corn ears over modius left and anchor right, COS III. RIC III 175, RSC II 284, BMCRE 657. 19.5 mm., 3.242 g.

    Ant. Pius Obv. 2.jpg

    Ant. Pius Rev..jpg

    Divus Antoninus Pius AR Denarius. Obv. Bare-headed bust right, slight drapery, DIVVS ANTONINVS / Rev. Funeral pyre, CONSECRATIO. RIC III 438MA , RSC II 164a, Sear RCV II 5193, BMCRE 60 (MA). 17.46 mm., 3.37 g.

    Divus Ant. Pius Obv.jpg

    Divus Ant. Pius Rev. 3.jpg

    I just can't stop seeing a birthday cake every time I come across one of these funeral pyre reverses.
     
  20. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    That's a terrific looking coin, Terence. Almost more like a medal, given the wonderful artistry.

    I'll share this ugly AP sestertius because it too features a personification of a geographical area - Parthia, which is unusual, as Parthia was not a province. David Sear's explanation below.

    Antoninus Pius - Sest. Parthia Dec. 2018 (0).jpg

    Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius
    (139 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    [ANTON]INVS [AVG PIVS P P], laureate head rt. / [PARTHIA] [COS II (in ex.)] S [C ], Parthia standing left, holding crown, bow & quiver on ground.
    RIC 586 (R); Cohen 572; BMCRE IV 1191; Strack 792
    (24.39 grams / 30 mm)

    Sear: "The remarkable inclusion of a rival state in this series commemorating provincial tax relief would seem to suggest that the Parthians were subject to some form of financial obligation to the Roman government consequent of
    Trajan's capture of Ctesiphon in AD 115 and the loss of the celebrated golden throne of the Arsacids"

     
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  21. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    He's got the whole world in his hands:

    [​IMG]
    Antoninus Pius Aureus - Standing with Globe

    Obverse: Laureate head right - ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II
    Reverse: Antoninus standing left wearing toga and holding globe in right hand - TR POT XIX COS IIII
    Gold, 19.5mm, 7.26gm
    Catalog: RIC 256a (Roman Imperial Coins)
    Struck: AD 155-156, Rome

    :)
     
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