Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 6608386, member: 99554&quot;][ATTACH=full]1266530[/ATTACH]</p><p>Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid</p><p><br /></p><p>The reign of <b>Pius</b> as Emperor is characterized by a dominant sense of stability and sensitivity. With his piety ensured by the honor rendered to his imperial predecessor, it was also alleged that the title of <b>Pius</b> reflected his intervention on behalf of the senators condemned by Hadrian. The imperial administration was, according to epigraphic evidence, particularly conservative during the reign of <b>Antoninus</b>. A close-knit group of senatorial families worked with the emperor to oversee the management of the empire, and the trust Antonine placed in them is indicated by the fact that he never left Italy during his reign.</p><p><br /></p><p>The period of his reign - from 138 to 161 AD - was the most peaceful in all of Rome&#039;s imperial history. No foreign wars of rapacious conquest or punitive justice have been waged against Rome&#039;s neighbors in these 23 years. The famous Pax Romana took all its meaning when he was the Emperor of the Roman world. The economy and coinage were central to Antoninus’ reign. The gold coinage emphasized the imperial family and the concept of pietas;</p><p><br /></p><p>Pius Dupondius Pietas</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1266529[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>the silver and bronze coinage focused on the Emperor&#039;s concern for the grain supply (annona). Despite his extensive building projects around the empire and in the capital, he still managed to leave a substantial surplus – around two and a half million sesterces – in the imperial treasury at the time he passed away.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pius Sestertius Annona</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1266528[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>When his beloved wife Faustina died in AD 141, <b>Antoninus</b> Pius was plainly devastated by the loss of his wife. His grief found expression in a number of magnificent monuments across the imperial capital. Chief amongst these, of course, is the Temple of the Deified Faustina in the Forum Romanum, which is now known as the Church of San Lorenzo; the temple was built in honor of her being deified by the Senate, and a number of coins were minted bearing the legend DIVA FAVSTINA to ensure that the imperial populace knew of her joining the gods.</p><p><br /></p><p>San Lorenzo Church</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1266531[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>It is interesting to notice that by analyzing dozens of hoards containing <b>Pius</b> coinage, we learned that a very high percentage of coins in this period was struck in the name of his divine wife. Faustina has a large presence on the Imperial coinage under <b>Pius</b>: 22.5% of gold, 30% of silver and 22% of all aes being struck in her name.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pius As Imperator (my only Wildwinds plate coin)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1266527[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Antoninus Pius died at Lorium, near Rome, <b><span style="color: #ff0000">March 7th</span></b> 161 AD. He was 74 years old.On the day the Empire lost one of its best ruler, <b>show me your Pius&#039; coins !</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in