In my random wanderings through the world of ancients I regularly get distracted by things I don't actively collect. The coins of Antoninus Pius as Caesar are not scarce but were only produced in a very small time window. At the death of his first adopted son Aelius, Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius as his son and successor raising him to Caesar on February 25th A.D. 138. Hadrian died on July 10th A.D. 138 at which point Pius was raised to Augustus. Pius was appointed Caesar on the condition that he in turn would adopt Marcus Annius Verus, the son of his wife's brother, and Lucius, son of Lucius Aelius, who later became Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. I think it is an interesting insight into the management of the lines of succession during this period. Both coins neatly illustrate the manufacturing artefact of flow lines quite nicely. Antoninus Pius (as Caesar) Denarius Obv:- IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS, Bare head right Rev:- TRIB POT COS, Minerva,standing left, holding Victory in right hand, left hand rests on shield on ground to side, spear rests on left arm Minted in Rome. February 25th to July 10th A.D. 138 Reference:– Cohen 1060. RIC II (Hadrian), p. 294 448 (C). BMC 1007 Antoninus Pius (as Caesar) Denarius Obv:- IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS, Bare head right Rev:- TRIB POT COS, Concordia,standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae. Minted in Rome. February 25th to July 10th A.D. 138 Reference(s) – Cohen 1061. RIC II (Hadrian), p. 294 450 (C). BMC 1010, Strack 408
Perhaps someone, some where, some how might be immune, but it's not me. I see a shiny little object and my eyes begin to focus on it. I have no control. BTW, both of these coins are beautiful Martin.
I'll add one with Diana. If shopping for one of these be aware that there is an issue of coins as Augustus where the abbreviation AVG does not appear on the obverse but is on the reverse. The story as I heard it suggested these are from a period when Pius was struggling with the Senate over their unwillingness to deify Hadrian but I do not have details on this if someone wants to research it. BMC does not list them as the first issue a Augustus. Another observation I can not prove is that it seems many coins of Pius' first year are found on more ragged flans with lots of edge splits and other signs of poor flan preparation. Martin's are very nice in this regard. Are the last Hadrians also this way? There is always more to research.
A most wonderful "distraction" Martin! I love coins which show flow lines, such as these examples do.
60% of my collection are "distractions"! those are both pretty awesome....flow lines are killer (and nice little tone highight on the first)!
Great coin! A coin that isn't a distraction is probably one you don't want. I have non of Pius as Caesar yet. I think this is my earliest coin of him.
