I had been looking at a Roman gold Aureus for some time, but the prices! It seemed that any piece that looked half way decent cost 5 figures. This one wasn't cheap, but it was priced will below five figures. I was pleasantly surprised when the dealer gave me his quote. I spotted this piece at the recent FUN show. It is graded NGC Choice VF and it looks better in person that it does in my pictures. For that reason, I am showing two views of it. The scratches in the first picture are way overstated in the photo. This piece has fairly smooth surfaces, and there is some mint luster in the protected areas between the lettering. The first view. The second view. Here are the "bullet points" from my notebook about the Emperor Antonius Pius, who ruled from 138 to 161. · Titus Aurelius Falvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus was born in 86 into a wealthy and distinguished family. His family wealth gave him good connections which helped him rise in a successful public career. · His first consulship came at age 34, and he gained a reputation for integrity during proconsular governorship in Asia (133-6). · His distinguished government service gained the attention of Hadrian. Hadrian’s health was failing and when his first choice to succeed him, Aelius Caesar, died, Hadrian selected Antoninus. He became emperor on July 10, 138. He was 52 years of age. · Antoninus’ appointment was complicated by the fact that Hadrian required him to appoint 17 year old Marcus Aurelius, nephew of Antoninus’s wife, Faustina, and 8 year old Lucius Verus, son of Aelius Caesar, as his successors. · Marcus Aurelius’ career was quickly pushed forward as he became Caesar in 139, but Lucius Verus was held back. · A constitutional crisis developed early in Antonius’ reign when he insisted upon the deification of Hadrian. Hadrian had never had a good relationship with the Senate, and they refused to support Antonius’ orders. The Senate was reluctant to vote for that consecration for Hadrian. · Ultimately Antonius had to threaten to abdicate to get the Senate to move. He devotion to Hadrian resulted in the granting of an additional title, Pius. · Despite the fact that Antonius was 52 when he became emperor, he ruled for 23 years. · During his reign, the empire enjoyed peace and prosperity. The only disturbance was a minor uprising in northern Britain which was easily quelled. · When Antonius Pius died, Marcus Aurelius became emperor along with Lucius Verus. This was the first co-emperorship in empire’s 188 year history.
I have a one-per collection, and I'm not terribly concerned about which denominations that I get for which people. But, I ultimately do want to have an example of every denomination somewhere in my collection. Which means that I'll also be having to cough up for an aureus one of these days Your coin would definitely fit the bill, hopefully I'll also come across one someday and be pleasantly surprised with the quote!
Welcome to the club of new aureus owners, @johnmilton! It's a beautiful coin. My only caveat is that I don't agree with you that halfway decent aurei generally cost five figures. Although I can't speak to auction prices or what dealers are asking at conventions, I spent a long time browsing through all the aurei available from all the dealers at VCoins and MA-Shops before deciding to buy my Vespasian. And it seems to me that although of course there are a great many outstanding coins that cost well into five figures, there are almost as many lovely aurei available in what I'd call the mid-four figure range: say, $4,500-$7,500. Certainly they have some flaws, and they aren't perfect, but they still have substantial eye appeal. My Exhibit A for this proposition, of course, is my Vespasian aureus: it cost me something around the middle of that mid-four figure range, and most people seemed to agree with me that it's a beautiful coin with a good portrait and an interesting reverse, not to mention the 1938 provenance (since pushed back to before 1910). Why wasn't it five figures? Probably because of the two small edge cuts. Which didn't bother me in the least. In other words, if you don't demand perfection, it's not at all necessary to spend five figures on an aureus. And since I'm not planning to make a habit of buying them, and certainly can't afford to do so, I was willing to spend four figures for one of them. Your coin can be Exhibit B!
Antoninus Pius was the most boring emperor of all Roman History. No big all-out civil or foreign wars, no neurotic behaviour, no madness, no funny vices, no debauchery, no scandals, no nymphomaniac wife (she was dead) or ambiguous boyfriend, no orgies during lockdown, nothing... But I am very jealous of this aureus!
Beautiful coin. Pius portraits are always very nice! As for the emperor, I think Antoninus' peace is over rated. Not checking the Germans militarily made for a brutal invasion in Aurelius' reign. Similar story earlier on when the Parthians caused trouble in Armenia in the East and Versus had to fix it. It was said that the Eastern military was in a sorry and undisciplined state at the start of the Persian war. Antoninus' peace is admirable with our current values, but in the ancient world it was necessary to use the sword to ensure stability.
