uh-oh I strayed from my collecting focus, Antoninus Pius Denarius

Paul M. · Mar 6, 2017

rrdenarius said: ↑

Roman Imperial Silver Denarius, 159 AD
View attachment 593963
View attachment 593964 AP from British Museum

I do not normally buy Roman Imperial coins, but this one spoke to me. I liked the details on both the obverse and reverse. It is interesting that the portrait looks like a new die and at the same time there are strong flow marks. I thought flow marks increased with die wear. Some of the letters look to be filled with metal from previous coins (PIV of PIVS is almost missing). The flan is a bit irregular, but the coin is well centered and it looks like all of the features are there. There are plenty of AP coins on line but not many with this reverse legend and the dead bull. It is interesting how many dealer attributions are close, but the legends are not right. The seller had PIVS out of order (it is almost missing on the coin). Also they had the year wrong because they called it a TR P XII (149) instead of TR P XXII (159 AD). I do not know how to determine the mint or the RIC #... help someone.
Sear mentions that VOTA & DECENNALIA were sacrifices to one of the Roman gods for past favors.
Ok... what I know about this coin is mostly from the seller, but also the few RI books I have. I used Historical References to Coins of the Roman Empire by Sydenham to determine the mint year. This exact coin is not in ERIC I or Van Meter.

Roman Imperial Silver Denarius, Mint? 159 AD
Antoninus Pius; Born – 9/19/86, Died 3/7/161; Roman Emperor from 138 to 161
Obv - laureate head right, ANTONINVS AVG [PIVS] PPTRPXXII
Rev - Antoninus Pius standing left, holding patera over tripod. Sacrificed bull behind tripod. Head and horns to left and rump roast to right of tripod. VOTA SOL DECENN II; In Ex - COS IIII
RIC 168.
3.02g, 19mm, 7h.
About Near Extremely Fine. (this is the seller's grade, I thought this was extra wordy)
Click to expand...

About Near Extremely Fine? That's a new one to me... Is that anything like "excessively rare"?

DECEN II refers to the beginning of the second decade of his rule. That, and the fact the date (TR P XXII) is perfectly clear on the reverse makes me think that the dealer just said "ho hum, another Antoninus Pius," and put down whatever the first thing they saw in their books that was close.

PS, Antoninus Pius is a great emperor to collect. I love that guy!

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ro1974 · Mar 6, 2017

Great coins offcourse i like them all
Nice detail the neck is broken durch the S

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uh-oh I strayed from my collecting focus, Antoninus Pius Denarius

Paul M. Well-Known Member

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uh-oh I strayed from my collecting focus, Antoninus Pius Denarius

Paul M. Well-Known Member

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